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56
It might be observed that the attendance at the
Inspection Clinic has risen from about 15—20 once a week
in 1921, to about 50 twice a week in 1925, and has on
occasions reached between 70 and 80 per session.
The Eye Clinic was started in October, 1923, and is held
once a fortnight during School terms.
Owing to the amalgamation of the Nursing Services it
became possible to undertake the treatment of minor
ailments daily in January, 1924, and in September, 1924,
Dental Inspection and Treatment was commenced twice a
week and increased to three times a week in December,
1925.
A scheme for the Orthopaedic treatment of crippled
children was put into operation in November, 1925.
All these large advances in Inspection and Clinic work
have proportionately increased the amount of clerical, cardindexing,
record-keeping, correspondence, and nurses'
duties, and I think great credit is due to the Staff, equivalent
to one Nurse and one junior clerk, which is the same
strength as in January, 1921.
The steady advance made during the last five years
must be looked upon with satisfaction by all, and it is
hoped that the same progress may continue.
In the future, the gradual extension of Dental Supervision
and Treatment to the whole of the School population
will necessitate periodically an increase in the number of
sessions per week devoted to this work, and an efficient
scheme for educating feeble-minded children in a special
class or school is yet a difficult problem for solution.
I thank Miss R. Bartter, your School Nurse, for her
keen and untiring work over the whole period which I
have briefly reviewed.
I am,
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your Obedient Servant,
E. W. MATTHEWS,
School Medical Officer.