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VI. —FOLLOWING-UP.
All defects discovered at medical inspections are reported to
the parents or guardians, with a recommendation that the necessary
treatment be obtained as soon as possible. Later, the Visitation
Officer visits the homes to see whether treatment has been obtained.
In most cases I am glad to say there is little or no delay in obtaining
the necessary treatment, but in a minority of cases pressure has to
be brought to bear on the parents before treatment is provided.
The number of visits paid by the Visitation Officer in the work of
following-up the defects found at medical inspection has been 2,012.
VII.— ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATMENT.
Arrangements for treatment remain as in former years. Wherever
possible parents are recommended to obtain treatment for their
children privately from the family doctor or at hospital, but where
the family circumstances make it difficult or impossible for this to
be done, provision has been made by the Education Committee for
the treatment of certain types of defect. At the School Clinic
treatment is provided for minor ailments, dental defects and defects
of vision, hearing and speech. Tonsils and adenoids are dealt with
at the Prince of Wales's Hospital and the Royal Northern Hospital,
ultra-violet light treatment is provided at the North Middlesex
Hospital and the Royal Northern Hospital, and X-ray treatment for
ringworm at the Royal Northern Hospital.
(a) Minor Ailments.
Eleven hundred and sixty-three children were treated at the
clinic for minor ailments, these comprising mainly septic conditions
of the skin, minor injuries, inflammatory conditions of the
ears and eyes, and other similar conditions which are apt to receive
insufficient attention at home, but may, if neglected, have a detrimental
effect on the health of the child.
(b) Tonsils and Adenoids.
Only one child was operated on during the year, under the
Committee's scheme, for enlarged tonsils and adenoids, while
eighteen received operative treatment privately at home or in
hospital. Children dealt with under the Committee's scheme are
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