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interfere more than could be avoided with the interests of
medical men practising in the area ; as an additional safeguard
the local doctors kindly examine, as confidential scrutineers, the
lists of patients treated by the Council.
In addition a very complete working relationship has been
established with the East London Hospital for Children; the
London Hospital; the Throat Department at Middlesex Hospital,
and various other Institutions to which the Medical Officer
refers suitable cases for consultation or treatment.
For several months during 1911 the Medical Officer saw
surgical out-patients and eye cases at the East London Hospital
for Children, and undertook or supervised treatment of a large
number of Barking patients in addition to getting the
cases treated it has afforded valuable experience as to value of
this method of treatment
Now. in suitable cases, the Medical Officer tests the vision,
instils the drug, takes the child up to hospital as one of a partv
and glassc are provided by a local optician, very often through
the Hospital Sunday Fund ; (thus reducing cost and travelling
time for parents and children) Scheme only a temporary
one until vision is made for treating eye defects in Barking
itself Bad cases of eye inflammation are taken up to
hospital for consultation whilst the skilled daily treatment is
carried out by the doctor or nurses in Barking.
A simillar arrangement prevailed in 1911 with throat cases,
but a re-arrangement of the work at this hospital and further
calls on the Medical Officer's time prevents his taking these
patients to the hospital himself; those not requiring anaesthesia
are dealt with in Barking—others are sent to the Middlesen
Hospital
Travelling with parents on these journeys has afforded very
valuable experience and some very distressing things have been
seen in which mothers have considerable difficulty with children
suffering from shock, etc., after anaesthesia, or a big, heavy child
has needed carrying, and on more than one occasion he has
helped to carry the child to the station himself "
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