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of the services if the facilities were made more con.ven.ient. It is very
striking that although the Honeypot Lane clinic building, being built
for the purpose, lends itself much more conveniently for holding clinic
sessions than the Sports Pavilion in the Chandos Recreation Ground,
those attending the Chandos Clinic would not go the longer way to Honeypot
Lane, and that attendances are now greater at Chandos than at the
other clinic. The difficulty of providing additional facilities is, of course,
that of lack of premises.
The medical officer of the clinic refers many cases for consultation
to the staff of the Redhill County Hospital, and it is a pleasure to acknowledge
the help received. Very full reports are sent of the hospital's
findings, while of course the mothers find it far more convenient to attend
there than travelling to one of the London hospitals.
It is at the clinics that some of the children are examined shortly
before leaving school in regard to their fitness for certain employment,
and where those who are engaged in part-time employment are seen.
Ophthalmic Clinic.
The children at all the maintained schools in the district except
Stag Lane, for which the Wembley Clinic is so much more convenient,
are now seen at three ophthalmic clinic sessions held in the district, two
at the Marlborough Hill Clinic and a third opened during the year at the
Alexandra Avenue Clinic.
Children are referred in the first instance by the medical officer
either at the school medical inspection or from one of the minor ailment
clinics. They are then examined by the ophthalmic surgeon under a
mydriatic and glasses prescribed where necessary. At the Marlborough
Hill Clinic a representative of a firm of opticians attends and provides
the glasses. If the parents elect to have something more than the standard
frame which is provided free of cost, they pay the difference in price.
At the Alexandra Avenue Clinic the school nurse decides on the size of
frames and the glasses are dispensed by a London firm.
All children ordered glasses and those to be kept under observation
are called for re-examination after an interval of time determined by the
surgeon.
Glasses are provided free ; also, if the surgeon considers it necessary,
a second pair is provided free. Repairs, too, are carried out free of charge.
At each session, a set number of new cases, those referred for refraction
and a number of children to be re-examined, are seen. The
three weekly sessions are sufficient to enable the children to be seen
within a short time of their being referred for examination. The reexaminations,
though, tend to accumulate, so every now and again an
additional session is held to which many are summoned. The present
difficulty is not that of arranging for the children to be seen by the ophthalmic
surgeon, but rather the delay in their obtaining the glasses which
have been ordered. These difficulties met with by the opticians, though,
are somewhat less now, and the period of waiting is diminishing.
Some children suffering from squint need operative treatment.
Arrangements are made for these to be admitted to hospital. In some
districts, encouraging results in the treatment of squint, if loss of vision
has not occurred, have followed the practice of orthoptic exercises.