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the family doctor. Occasionally parents approach the clinic of their own initiative. We
deal with all sorts of eye diseases but the main work is refraction work and the treatment
of squints. Co-operation from the orthoptic departments and the various hospitals is
very good indeed and I should like to mention with gratitude the very prompt and
exhaustive reports we receive.
Unfortunately, we have no dispensing optician present at the sessions and I find
that a decisive disadvantage. There are quite a number of parents who cannot be
bothered to go to an optician for the measurement of frames etc. Minor repairs, which
could be done easily on the spot, are often unduly delayed or not done at all. It would
certainly be more satisfactory if the services of a reliable dispensing optician could be
obtained without interfering with the right of the parents to see an optician of their own
choice, should they prefer to do so."
"As in previous years, it has been found that the attendance at the clinics is only
moderately good: children fail to attend for no reason and only a small proportion of
parents notify the clinic when they or the children are unable or unwilling to attend.
Hyoscine continues to be used as a mydriatic when necessary in a number of old
cases, though atropine is almost always used for new cases. This has worked out well
in practice, and is convenient for children and parents alike.
Again it must be pointed out that the presence of a dispensing optician would be of
great value to the clinic. Minor repairs to children's glasses could be carried out on the
spot, and while no pressure would be brought to bear on the parents, it would probably
be a great convenience to many of them to be able to hand in their prescriptions for
glasses to the optician at the clinic.
Another weekly session is badly needed at this clinic since at present it is impossible
to keep the retests up to date or to see the new cases within a reasonable time after
referral."
Audiometric Tests
Forty children have been tested with the audiogram. 6 were referred to Grays Inn
Road Hospital, I has been supplied with a hearing aid, 12 are under observation and the
others have been referred to the clinic doctor for supervision.
Child Guidance
76 children from Dagenham were referred to the Romford Child Guidance Clinic.
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