View report page

54
supervision. The workshops of this hospital also make any surgical
boots and instruments that are prescribed.
Recently, in order that the general practitioners of the children
attending the clinics shall be kept informed, letters have been
sent about each new case both to the School Medical Officer referring
the case and to the general practitioner concerned. This of course
increases the clinic work but, I am sure, is well worthwhile for all
concerned.
It might be considered that the work done at these Orthopaedic
Clinics could be carried out by the local hospitals under the National
Health Service, but I am of opinion that it is much better not to add
these children to the already overworked hospital out-patient and
physiotherapy departments and as far as possible to reduce the
amount of time spent in travelling by both parents and children to
hospitals. This gives the busy housewife relief and interferes as
little as possible with the children's education."

Interviews.—Approximately 96 new cases were seen during the
year. Many of these do not appear in the figures given above as
they only attended two or three times.
Schools.—In September 57 Primary and Junior schools were
visited. 408 speech defective children were discovered and of those
105 were receiving treatment. The remainder had not been referred
as they were less defective and it was known that there were few
vacancies for treatment.
Waiting List.—The waiting list of children referred (as distinct
from those in schools not referred) stands at 15, but as will be seen
above, this is not a true guide to the need for treatment.
General.—Closer liaison with medical officers, through Dr.
Lilliott, and with Mrs. Chambers, the Audiometer Operator, has
resulted in a speed up of surgical treatment, transfer to special
schools, and early detection of hearing loss with subsequent action.