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Orthopedics.—There has also been established in connection with the Stonebridge Health
Centre a new department of work, namely, orthopaedic work. At this Orthopaedic Clinic an Orthopaedic
Surgeon, who is also the Medical Superintendent of the country branch of the Royal National
Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore, attends twice a month and gives directions as to the treatment
to be pursued. The treatment is carried out by a specially trained orthopaedic nurse. The attendances
at this Orthopaedic Centre have been so great that it has been necessary for the Council to
employ a second orthopaedic nurse for the purpose of carrying out the remedial exercises, massage
and electrical treatment which are given for the many cases of paralysis, and greater or less deformities
which attend.
Any case which the surgeon finds requiring in-patient treatment, for example, some operative
procedure in order to correct a deformity, is referred by him to the country branch of the Royal
National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore, where the case is under his direct supervision. The
importance of continuous supervision by the same orthopaedic surgeon cannot be over emphasised.
New Methods.—In addition to the extension of work, as indicated above, there have been
new methods introduced of carrying out work previously undertaken.
Eye Work.—Eye work for school children is now wholly undertaken by a specialist medical
officer, namely, Mr. Law, who was appointed by the Council on March 25th, 1930.
Mr. Law has only been on duty during 8 months of the year, but during the whole year 976
cases have been dealt with by refraction as compared with 604 in the previous year. This is a satisfactory
result, as I have been of opinion for some time that there was a greater amount of leakage
than was desirable in connection with eye rases. Mr. Law's report on his work during the year
appears as Appendix E.
Dental Anaesthesia.—Another arrangement which was introduced concurrently with the
opening of the Stonebridge Health Centre was the administration of anaesthetics by a specially
qualified medical man. For this purpose Dr. Jarman was appointed. His duty is to give anaesthesia
in connection with dental cases. The dentists report that his methods of administration of anaesthesia
are much superior to the old methods, whereby gas was given by various medical officers in rotation.
The dentists state that they are now able to carry out their work with the patients under complete
anaesthesia, and without having to watch the condition of the patients, as this is carefully attended
to by Dr. Jarman.
Dr. Jarman's report on his work is included with the report on dental work by Mr. Jennings.
Local Government Act, 1929 (Supervision of Midwives, Infant Life Protection).—
The operation of this Act has led to additional work being taken over by the Council, with a consequent
increase in the work to be undertaken by the Health Department.
I refer notably to the Supervision of Midwives and Infant Life Protection, reports on which
appear in the body of this report. The Supervision of Midwives and of Nursing Homes and Infant
Life Protection are important work so far as the Willesden Council, as a Maternity and Child Welfare
authority is concerned, and tend to make complete under one authority all matters relating to
maternity and child welfare.
Registration of Nursing Homes.—In addition the work of Registration and Supervision
of Nursing Homes has been added to the department, and is likewise specially dealt with in the body
of the report.
Housing Act, 1930.—This Act came into operation on 16th August, 1930. The object
of the Act is to remove insanitary areas, called clearance areas, and to ameliorate the conditions
in other insanitary areas, called improvement areas, and to abate overcrowding. In short, the Act
makes for the abolition of slums and the prevention of slums.
It places considerable duties upon the Council, and the action to be taken in respect of suitable
areas of Willesden will require careful consideration during the course of the year.
Your obedient Servant,
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.