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The Committee expressed the view that the disease
Ophthalmia Neonatorum requires constant attention and skilled
nursing, and can most satisfactorily be treated in Hospitals, the
ideal arrangement being the admission of both mother and child
to Hospital. The arrangement in Wembley is that babies suffering
from this complaint are admitted to the London County
Council Hospital—St. Margaret's, Kentish Town. Cases considered
not to require Hospital admission receive domiciliary
treatment from the nurses of the Wembley District Nursing
Association, the Council paying 1/6d. per visit as well as
supplying all necessary gloves, aprons, etc., required. A
sentence in the report itself with regard to domiciliary treatment
is most impressive—"Such an arrangement can only be
regarded as satisfactory when the home nursing provided is
equal in effectiveness to the skilled nursing and constant
attention already advocated for cases which are taken into
Hospital."
With regard to children under school age, reference was
made in the Circular to the arrangements whereby some Local
Authorities use the services of the school ophthalmic surgeon
for the examination of children under school age. At the time
of writing, the Council are in negotiation with the Middlesex
County Council regarding such a service being given through
their school ophthalmic service.
The value of external eye conditions being able to receive
treatment at a minor ailments clinic was also mentioned. At
the time of writing, minor ailment treatments have commenced
to be given at the Council's permanent clinic buildings, (One
Tree Hill and Stag Lane).
Infectious Diseases.
The Minister endorsed the recommendation that there
should be arrangements whereby a Medical Officer in charge of
an Isolation Hospital should call in an Eye Specialist to advise
on or treat any eye complications.
Venereal Diseases.
The value of close co-operation between the Maternity and
Child Welfare Clinics and Venereal Diseases Treatment Centres
was mentioned, with reference to the fact that many Maternity
and Child Welfare Authorities systematically refer cases needing
treatment to Maternity Hospitals or to Venereal Diseases
Treatment Centres. Such a scheme operates in Wembley.
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