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135
Minor Ailments
Minor ailments are treated by the Health Visitors at the
Clinics, or at school if requested by the Head Teacher.
These arrangements are found to avoid loss of school time
which would otherwise be inevitable.
During the year a total of 323 pupils was treated.
Treatment of Pupils
EYE DISEASES, DEFECTIVE VISION AND SQUINT
Number of cases known to have been dealt with:—
External and other, excluding errors of
refraction and squint 14
Errors of refraction (including squint) 3,722
Total 3,736
Number of pupils for whom spectacles were
prescribed 1,955
Ophthalmic Clinics
These Clinics are situated at Beckenham, Bromley, Chislehurst,
Orpington, Penge and St. Paul's Cray. A total of 9 weekly
sessions is held at these centres. In addition, a session is held
every other week at Bromley.
A total of 747 new cases and 2,989 re-examinations was seen
at the Clinics.
It would seem unnecessary to stress how vital it is that
children's vision should be checked. It is not universally appreciated
how defects of vision are often accepted by a child, and the
parents are, therefore, not alerted to their existence.
In spite of this it is surprising the wastage that occurs from
appointments not being kept. Regrettably, in some cases no
message is received either, which leads to difficulties in making
up full appointment lists.
Orthoptic Clinic
Patients seen at this Clinic are always referred by an Ophthalmologist.
Two weekly sessions are held at the Bromley North
Clinic, and one session per week at The Willows Clinic, Chislehurst.
Patients not living in the areas served by these two clinics
are seen at the nearest local Hospital.
The following types of cases are referred:—
(a) Cases of obvious strabismus or squint.
(b) Patients suspected of having a strabismus.
(c) Amblyopic patients.
(d) Patients with any ocular muscle imbalance.