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III. The provision of beds by arrangement with the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
(School), Stanmore, for in-patient treatment.
IV. The provision of splints and appliances.
V. After-care at the Stonebridge Orthopaedic Clinic as long as the child attends school.
"17. (c) In view of the need for expert treatment of ear diseases, which may result in
deafness, it is very desirable that Authorities, which have not yet done so, should arrange for
the services of part-time aural specialists who would visit the areas periodically and advise as
to the treatment of such cases. The work of the specialists should be closely co-ordinated
with that of the aural surgeons employed by Authorities responsible for the maintenance of
Isolation Hospitals, since so many ear defects in children are the result of attacks of acute
infectious disease."
Note by Dr. Buchan.
17. (c) The Council have arranged for the services of an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon who
visits the Health Centres periodically and whose services arc also available at the Willesden Municipal
Hospital, to advise as to the treatment of ear diseases.
"17. (d) There are many industrial areas where Day Open-Air Schools do not exist or
their number is inadequate, and the Board would welcome proposals for increasing the number
of such Schools. While day schools suffice for most children, there are some who, on account
of their debilitated condition or exceptional home circumstances, require the more continuous
care which can only be given in a residential school. In areas, whether urban or rural, where
sufficient residential school accommodation is not available for cases of this kind, Authorities
should consider the utilisation of the existing voluntary agencies or, if those prove to be
insufficient, co-operate in establishing the necessary residential schools."
Note by Dr. Buchan.
17. (d) There is no day open-air school in Willesden but the Education Committee have
reserved places at the following residential open-air schools to which they send debilitated children
for a period of six weeks in the first instance :—
St. Dominic's Open-Air School, Godalming 4 places for boys.
St. Patrick's Open-Air School, Hayling Island 11 places for girls.
Russell-Cotes School of Recovery, Parkstone 9 places for boys, and
4 places for girls.
making 28 places in all. Approximately 220 debilitated children are sent away for a period of
convalescence each year.
Children who are debilitated by such conditions as fibrosis of the lungs, asthma, rickets and
require prolonged open-air treatment, are sent by the Education Committee to such residential schools
as St. Catherine's School, Ventnor, or Oak Bank Open-Air School, Sevenoaks.
An extension of the present arrangement of sending debilitated children to residential open-air
schools for periods of six weeks' convalescence, appears to be a more satisfactory proposition than
sending them to a day open-air school where they would spend less than seven hours a day on five days
a week.
There is at present no provision made by the Education Committee for sending debilitated
children between the ages of 3 and 5, attending the nursery classes, away for short periods of convalescence
in a residential open-air school, in the way that children over the age of 5 are sent at the present
time. Such provision merits consideration.
17. (e) There is a need for increased provision for the special institutional treatment of
children suffering or convalescent, from acute rheumatism, since this condition, if not suitably
treated, may lead to heart disease. This problem is an important one, but the number of such
children is comparatively small and the method of co-operation suggested above for making the
necessary residential provision might be followed in this case also."
Note by Dr. Buchan.
17. (e) The Education Committee have at present made no provision for the special institutional
treatment of children suffering from acute rheumatism. Children convalescent from acute rheumatism
are sent for a short period of convalescence to a residential open-air school, or if they are left with heart
disease, they are sent to a heart home such as those at West Wickham and Lancing.
It appears desirable that a number of beds be provided for the treatment of children suffering
from acute rheumatism and these would best form part of a rheumatic scheme embracing a Rheumatic
Supervisory Clinic.
"17. (/) The problem of the sub-normal child is one which calls for careful attention.
While additional Day Special Schools for Mentally Defective Children are not, as a rule, urgently
required, there is need of increased residential provision for difficult children or those of lowgrade
intelligence who are out of reach of, or unsuitable for, Day Special Schools, but cannot
properly be retained in the ordinary public elementary school."