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Crippling Defects and OrthopÆdics.—An Orthopaedic Clinic staffed by an Orthopaedic
Surgeon and a specially qualified nurse is held at the Stonebridge Health Centre. The report of the
Orthopaedic surgeon appears as Appendix F.
The second Annual Report on the work in connection with Abnormal Children appears later in
this report.
SECONDARY AND TRADE SCHOOLS.
The arrangement by which the Medical Staff of the Willesden Council carry out the inspection
of pupils attending the Secondary and Trade Schools in Willesden, on behalf of the Middlesex County
Council, has been continued, but during the year it was extended to four additional schools, namely,
the Brondesbury and Kilburn High School, the Convent of Jesus and Mary, the Willesden Art
School and the Willesden Polytechnic Engineering School. The total number of pupils on the rolls
of the Secondary and Trade Schools in Willesden now included in this arrangement, is 2,485.
1,287 medical examinations and 204 re-examinations of Secondary and Trade School pupils
have been carried out during the year 1935.
445 medical defects were found amongst the scholars examined. Parents and Head Teachers
are notified of defects and are advised as to the action to be taken.
During the year the Middlesex County Council put into operation the scheme of treatment
of scholars suffering from defective vision, at the Willesden Council's Health Centres, and also that of
dental inspection and treatment by the Council's dental staff referred to in the 1930 Annual Report.
2,332 pupils were dentally inspected during the year, 1619 were found to require treatment and 441
were treated at the Willesden Council's Dental Clinics. 1,548 attendances were made at the Clinics
during the year for Medical and Dental Treatment.
PARENTS PAYMENTS.
(a) Public Elementary Schools.
The recovery of the cost of certain forms of treatment from parents of children attending
Public Elementary Schools is made according to the Council's Economic Circumstances Scale, which
is based on the net income per head per week of the family.
For cases of enlarged tonsils, adenoids, and deflected septum, the payment for operation and
the first 3 days in hospital is either the full cost of 24s. part cost, or if below the minimum of the
Economic Scale, nil. The charge per day after the first 3 days is 4s. 6d. full cost, and pro rata of part
cost.
Spectacles are provided either at the full cost of 4s., at half-price, or free if below the Economic
Scale.
In cases of certain nutrient drugs, prescribed by the Health Centre Medical Officers, these are
supplied free, if below the Economic Scale, otherwise cost price is charged.
Vouchers issued by certain Hospital Associations and Sickness Funds are accepted in lieu of
payment for the provision of spectacles and for operation in cases of enlarged tonsils, adenoids and
deflected septum.
The arrangements for recovering the cost of treatment for dental work are dealt with in the
Reports of the Dental Surgeon, Annual Report, 1934, page 55, and Annual Report, 1935, herewith,
page 57.
(b) Secondary and Technical Schools.
Pupils attending these schools who are suffering from defective vision, may, by an arrangement
of the Middlesex County Council, attend the Willesden Council's Ophthalmic Surgeon at one of the
Health Centres. No charge is made to the parent for inspection or refraction by the Ophthalmic
Surgeon, but if spectacles are ordered a fee of 5s. is payable by the parent to the Head Teacher of
the School.
The arrangements for recovering the cost of treatment for dental work are dealt with in the
Report of the Dental Surgeon herewith—see page 57.
HEALTH EDUCATION.
The work has proceeded on the same lines as outlined on page 12 of the Annual Report for 1934.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
249,509 meals were supplied in 1935 as compared with 241,905 in 1934, 197,338 in 1933, 197,821
in 1932 and 138,361 in 1931.
The recipients of these meals are mainly children of the unemployed, widows and deserted
wives.