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SPECIALIST SERVICES
Orthopaedic Clinic
This clinic is held at Leys Clinic, Ballards Road. A surgeon and physiotherapist
are provided by the Regional Hospital Board, nursing staff and clerical assistance by the
County Health Authority. The surgeon attends on every second Thursday in each
month and the physiotherapist attends all day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday.
I give below a short report received from Mrs. F. Cocker, the physiotherapist:—
During 1958 there was a slight increase in the number of patients attending the
orthopaedic clinic. 399 patients were treated for orthopaedic and postural defects and
84 patients received ultra violet light therapy. In all, the total number of treatments
given was 6,671. The orthopaedic surgeon was in attendance for 10 sessions at which
130 patients were seen, 54 being new patients; 7 children were referred to hospital for
surgical treatment.
The majority of the patients are suffering from mild postural deformities, the lower
limbs being mainly affected. One wonders if the modern fashion trend in footwear is
responsible for this, as certain deformities such as hallux valgus were seldom seen in
children 20 years ago, now we frequently see children under school age with definite
signs of this complaint.
I still feel that if the clinic was in a more accessible position more patients could
be treated satisfactorily. Many patients with respiratory affections have to miss treatment
during the bad weather and quite a number of parents complain of the distance
they have to travel, the high cost of travelling expenses and the time taken in accompanying
the children.
Ophthalmic Clinic
The ophthalmic clinic continued during 1958 as in previous years. At the 102
sessions held during the year, slightly more children were seen, 1,722 as against 1,645
in 1957. Of these, 1,258 suffered from errors of refraction including squint and 464
from external and other defects of the eye.
Of the 229 children found to have defects at periodic medical inspections, 205 were
found by the ophthalmologist to require observation only.
As last year, the ophthalmologists Dr. Macfarlane and Dr. Regal, who attend the
clinics, have been kind enough to submit a report of their work during the year and to
give their comments and observations. The following are extracts from their reports:—
" Our patients are referred to us mainly by the school medical officer or by the
school nurses, some by the infant welfare clinics (28 in the current year), and a few from
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