London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bromley 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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133
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 295 pupils was treated.
EYE DISEASES, DEFECTIVE VISION AND SQUINT Number of cases known to have been dealt with: —
| External and other, excluding errors of refraction and squint | 9 |
| Errors of refraction (including squint) | 3,444 |
| Total | 3,453 |
| Number of pupils for whom spectacles were prescribed | 1,638 |
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 558 new cases and 2,895 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, Chisle-