View report page

95
clerical work performed in the office, it is quite impossible to
assess the marked degree to which the success of the Department
depends upon efficient clerical administration.
The ordinary office routine is intricate and requires
meticulous care and precision in order to ensure smooth and
efficient arrangements for medical and dental inspection, re.inspection,
clinic attendance (15 clinics are held each week), following
up, general cleanliness and sanitary surveys, the examination
of special cases referred through various channels, the keeping of
the necessary accounts and stock, and for prompt action in regard
to notification of infectious and contagious diseases, in regard to
notification of entrants, transfers, promotions and changes of
address, and in regard to ensuring the reception and despatch of
medical records.
Co.ordination can only be assured by an alert and active office
staff whereby reports and returns are promptly interchanged
between the School Medical Department and the services with
which it is intimately associated (the Education Department and the
Schools, the Maternity and Child Welfare Service, the Tuberculosis
Dispensary, the Hospitals, Convalescent Homes, Schools of
Recovery, etc.), and whereby members of the professional staff
are furnished immediately with any relevant and necessary information
arising out of such reports.
The filing and compilation of complete and up.to.date records,
statistics and schedules is imperative, requires careful organisation
and involves a great deal of thought and management in order
to ensure the minimum amount of necessary work commensurate
with a maximum amount of efficiency and accuracy.
It is only possible to touch upon the fringe of the clerical
activities of the Department, and I sincerely regret that the
Authority were not convinced that my proposal, in regard to the
position of Chief Administrative Clerk in the School Medical
Department, was justifiable. Since that proposal was put forward
developments, which have still further increased the work and
responsibility, have accrued, and amongst these may be mentioned
the addition to the Staff of a full.time dental surgeon, an increase
in the number of sessions devoted to aural treatment, the treatment
of orthopaedic cases at Queen Mary's Hospital, the operative
treatment of tonsils and adenoids at the Memorial Hospital, and the