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96
BLINDNESS
I am indebted to the Chief Welfare Officer for access to his
records regarding newly registered Blind Persons during the
twelve months ending December 31st, 1954.
These show that 88 new cases were certified on Forms B. D. 8,
including 7 cases of Glaucoma and 39 of Cataract. Surgical treatment
was advised in 10 cases and subsequent enquiries showed
operation refused, 5 - operation performed, 2 - admission to hospital
being awaited, 2 - patient deceased, 1 In 5 cases where
operation was considered of doubtful value, no action had been
taken.
PROBLEM FAMILIES
Prom a strictly practical viewpoint, we may regard them as
families making excessive demands on the services of public
authorities and voluntary organisations. There is no reason to
believe that they are now more numerous than in the past, but
with a rising standard of general education and improvement in
material well-being, they stand out in greater contrast.
The chief interest of the Health Department is, of course,
the children of these families and the effect upon their health,
physical and mental, of ignorance, cruelty or neglect. A Joint
Circular of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and
the Home Office recommended the setting up of co-ordinating
machinery in each county and county borough area, as the first
step in dealing with children neglected or ill-treated in their
own homes. Such a co-ordinating committee convened by the Medical
Officer of Health has been meeting in Croydon each month since
1951. During 1954, 61 families were discussed, 32 on one occasion
only and 15 at two meetings. The approximate total of "problem"
families is indicated by the numbers discussed more frequently,
viz: 6 families on 3 occasions, 3 on 4 occasions, Ion 5 occasions,
3 on 6 occasions and ] on 9 occasions. These are case conferences
of officers only and the Croydon organisations and statutory
departments represented include the Marriage Guidance Council,
the Association for Moral Welfare, the National Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Guild of Social Service,
the Women's Voluntary Services, the Child Guidance Clinic, the
Hospital Almoners, the Probation Officers, the National Assistance
Board, the Police Force (Women Police) and the Corporation's
Housing, Welfare Services, Education, Children's and Health Departments.
There seems to be general agreement amongst those
attending that these conferences are of great assistance and as