View report page

89
Department) was brought forward as a case of defective eyesight.
She was then wearing no spectacles, and stated that the glasses
obtained did not suit her. On enquiry, it was found these glasses
had been obtained from an optician, and not through the hospital
letter provided. Finally, D. S. was brought up to the S.M.O.,
with a message from the optician, who had been again visited,
to say that " the girl's sight was very bad, and the school doctor
had better see to it."
D. S. is now in the hands of the School Oculist.
The payment of spectacles in necessitous cases is provided
for by a grant of £50 made by the Urban District Council for
this purpose. An attempt is always made to obtain some contribution
from the parents, as it is found that more care is taken
of the glasses under these circumstances. After a prescription
is received from the Oculist, the glasses are supplied, and the
School Attendance Officers collect payment in small instalments.
This is often a tedious business; for instance, in two cases visits
were paid for over three months in order to collect the sum of
3s. in each case.
During the past year 198 children were examined by the
Oculist. They paid 345 visits, 93 prescriptions for spectacles
were given, and spectacles were obtained in 90 cases.