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92
and then only, am I able to prescribe these things. This is a
cumbersome arrangement, and wastes the time of the patient, the
parent and myself.
"However, if the children can be given the necessary treatment,
and if the State Service is such that it is taken full advantage
of (as it would seem to be at the present time), then I feel
that all these petty annoyances and difficulties must be worth
while and must be tolerated.
"As in 1947, so in 1948 a very considerable number of cases
of Squint have been successfully treated, mainly by the combined
method of correction of refraction error, Orthoptics and Operation.
Miss Cope, the Orthoptist, has co-operated whole-heartedly
in all the work. I am much indebted to her and wish to record
my appreciation of her work.
"I should like to conclude this report by thanking those
who have helped to make the running of the Department both
happy and efficient, and in particular the Health Visitors and
School Nurses and Administrative Staff of the Health Department."
ORTHOPTIC CLINIC.
(See Table VI.)
76 sessions have been held, and attendances at the Orthoptic
Clinic during the year have been good, showing a slight increase
over 1947. Some new cases have been referred by Dr. Lyle from
the Chislehurst Clinic as well as from the Bromley and Orpington
Clinics.
29 cases have been discharged as cured during the year, and
13 of these have been discharged with binocular single vision.
The delay experienced in dispensing lenses and frames for
the patients attending this Clinic has proved a great disadvantage
to treatment.
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT CLINIC.
(See Table III, Group III.)
60 children received operative treatment at Farnborough
Hospital for tonsils and adenoids during the year, which is a
slight increase over the number receiving treatment in 1947.
At the 31st December, 1948. there were 99 children awaiting
operative treatment.
No child was found to require treatment for serious diseases
of the ear during 1948.