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ation of the Public Health and Medical Services Committee.
Provision for the necessary staff has already been made in the 1940
estimates.
VISUAL DEFECTS.
The Ophthalmic sessions were continued throughout as while the
routine medical inspections, from which cases are normally referred,
were in abeyance for a period, there was a sufficient number of
children on the waiting list to necessitate carrying on the normal
number of sessions until routine medical inspections were resumed.
It was not possible, however, to continue the orthoptic treatment of
squint normally carried out at the Central Hendon Health Centre as it
was not thought advisable to transfer the delicate instruments in use
to temporary premises. These sessions were re-established, however,
when the Health Centre reverted to its normal function.
ORTHOPAEDIC TREATMENT.
As far as remedial exercises and treatment sessions were concerned
the services have been maintained at full capacity throughout.
The number of Surgeon's sessions had to be reduced as your Orthopaedic
Surgeon had duties to the Emergency Hospital Service which precluded
his devoting the same time to the School Clinics. Mr. Seddon, however,
issued a very useful guide concerning the method of selection of cases
to be seen by him which has helped considerably in reducing the numbers
referred. No difficulty has been experienced in having children
admitted for in-patient hospital treatment.
TREATMENT OF DEFECTIVE SPEECH.
This has been abandoned temporarily but was resumed on the 24th
October, 1939.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
In accordance with the arrangements made with the Middlesex County
Council routine medical examination was continued in secondary schools
and the treatment of visual and dental defects. At the commencement
of the war there was a period when only limited numbers of children
were being instructed but as shelter accommodation became available all
the children were ultimately re-admitted. Arrangements were made for
these services to be extended to the children in the junior day
departments of the Hendon Technical Institute.
9.