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Physio-therapeutic Treatment : Children are referred from the local
clinics to be seen by the physio-therapist or the orthopaedic
surgeon at the Marlborough Hill Clinic. Children under five
recommended for treatment by the Council's staff of the Clinic
are treated on behalf of the Council, even though they were not
in the first instance referred from a Council clinic. The forms
of physio-therapy available include exposure to rays or mercury
vapour and carbon arc lamps, short-wave therapy, massage and
active exercises. Class exercises are held for the correction of
postural conditions. During the year 164 new cases were
referred. The total number of attendances by patients was 1,433
(140 massage and 1,293 electro-therapeutic). The consultant
orthopaedic surgeon saw 41 patients, and 329 were seen by the
consultant physio-therapist. Orthopaedic patients requiring
in-patient treatment are admitted to the Stanmore Orthopaedic
Hospital.
Correction of Visual Defects : Children requiring ophthalmic treatment
receive this at the hands of the Education Committee
staff. Glasses where required are provided free of cost.
Provision is made for children wearing glasses to be re-tested
periodically. During the year 173 children were referred for
treatment.
Operative Treatment of Tonsils and Adenoids : Children requiring
this treatment are admitted either to the Harrow Hospital or
to the Redhill County Hospital, the patients being detained in
hospital the night before and the night after operation. During
the year 9 children were treated under this arrangement.
Child Guidance Treatment : 14 children were referred during the
year to the Child Guidance Clinic maintained at 2, St. John's
Road, Harrow, by the Middlesex Education Committee.
Speech Therapy : 15 children were referred during the year to the
Speech Therapy Centre maintained at 2, St. John's Road,
Harrow, by the Middlesex Education Committee.
Convalescent Homes : Up to 1939 arrangements were made for
suitable children to be admitted for a short period stays to convalescent
homes. It was getting more difficult to find accommodation
and quite impossible when the war started. Some
authorities maintain their own homes, others pay for the reservation
of a certain number of beds at established homes.
Home Nursing: Welfare authorities are empowered to provide
home nursing for certain groups of ailments of children under
five. In this district such treatment is carried out on behalf of
the Council by the staff of the local nursing association. During
the year responsibility was accepted for the payment of fees for
the treatment of one child.
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
On a prospective foster mother making application, she is visited by
the health visitor, each of whom is appointed child protection visitor for
her area, and the premises are inspected by the sanitary inspector. In