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106
THE SGH00L CLINIC.
This useful institution has at last materialised, after our long endeavours
to establish it, which began as far back as 1912. In July, 1914, the Education
Committee had agreed on a scheme, but on the sudden advent of the Great War
in the next month, the Board of Education stopped any further progress and
the subject was not revived until 1919.
The Council agreed to find the necessary rooms at the large mansion in
Pymmes Park and the Education Committee took them over on the 21st
January, 1920. The Clinic was opened on the 16th March, when the minor
ailments section commenced work, with the Assistant School Medical Officer
(Dr. R. H. Strong) in charge. The dental section (under Mr. L. S. Pilbeam)
commenced work on 12th April, 1920, and finally, the Oculist, Dr. (Miss) Mary
Joll, commenced on May 13th, 1920.
Accommodation.—At the Town Hall, office room is provided in the
Public Health Department for the S.M.O., who is also M.O.H., the School
Medical Clerk and Following-up Nurse (all three are part-time officers). This
enables the M.O.H. to keep in close touch with them. This co-operation is
especially useful, when the home conditions of the scholars require attention.
The office of the Cleansing Nurse will be at the cleansing station when it is
completed. The girl clerks of the Clinic work at Pymmes Park House.
On the ground floor of Pymmes Park House, an office is provided for the
Minor Ailments Clerk, sanitary accommodation for the staff and a waiting
room. The sanitary accommodation for the mothers and children is provided
outside, but just adjoining. On the same floor there is also a staff room, where
confidential interviews with the parents can be conducted.
On the first floor is the dental surgery, minor ailments treatment room and
the Oculist's room. This latter is so large that a portion of it is devoted to
extra waiting-room accommodation.
Limitations of Treatment.—It should be remembered that the
scheme under which this Clinic is established only provides treatment at the
expense of the rates on certain defined conditions within which treatment must
be limited. For instance, the Minor Ailments Section is for the treatment of
xommon skin diseases (other than scabies) external eye diseases, ear discharges
and sores. It must not be used as an out-patient department and children
must not be sent there in the hopes of sparing the parents the expense of consulting
a general practitioner.