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Minor Ailment Clinics
These clinics deal mainly with odd slight injuries, such as sprains,
burns, cuts, a few of the common skin infections and minor defects of the
eye and ear. Despite the growth in the school population, the number
attending these "minor ailment" sessions has tended to fall over the past
few years. However, as mentioned above, the sessions are also used much
more for consultation and special examination purposes at which the
medical and nursing staff can devote much more detailed attention to a
particular child's problems.
Eye Diseases, Defective Vision and Squint
Children are referred from ciinics and school medical inspections,
for eye testing and for advice and treatment for diseases and minor
defects of the eye. These children are seen at the following clinics:- Caryl
Thomas, Honeypot Lane and Alexandra Avenue.
For many years the school ophthalmic service was staffed by the
ophthalmologists from Edgware General Hospital. The service was
provided under National Health Service Act, 1946 and no charge was
made to the Authority by the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board for the 4 sessions required.
This was an ideal arrangement for many years because it ensured
that there was close co-operation between the local Authority Service and
that provided by the Hospital service. However, during recent years
difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the requisite number of
sessions and in July of this year there was another complete breakdown
in the service due to the resignation of the Assistant Ophthalmologist. At
this point in time the Council decided to provide its own medical staff
and on 6th October 1971 Dr. Banerji commenced his duties as the
Borough's Ophthalmologist. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank both Mr. Gibson-Moore and Mr. Kelsey at Edgware General
Hospital for all their help during the years past and I am also indebted
to the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board for their
great assistance both in the past and during the transition period. Mr.
Jackson, the Consultant Ophthalmologist at Northwick Park Hospital,
very kindly assisted with the establishment of the Borough's new service.
I am pleased to be able to report that a close relationship is developing
between the Borough's services and those provided by both Hospitals.
During the year 104 cases of disease of the eye (including minor
defects treated at minor ailment clinics) were treated. 1,068 children were
seen at the clinics and in 204 cases glasses were prescribed.
Orthoptic Clinic
An orthoptist attends the Caryl Thomas Clinic for two sessions each
week to deal with cases referred by the visiting ophthalmic surgeon. These
cases include the pre and post-operative treatment of cases of squint.