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"I am very grateful to the Head Teachers for the assistance they
have given in this direction, but much more must be done. In one
case 151 children at a school were found to require treatment. Of
these, 34 took advantage of the facilities offered by the Clinic. The
number obtaining the attention of private dentists was negligible.
"School inspections have been arranged so that the children of
the 5-8 age group are inspected more frequently than the older
children. This method is found to be more profitable than if each
school and department were inspected in turn before a second
inspection of any one school or department was made.
"Attendance at the Clinic of those given appointments has
appreciably improved, due chiefly to notifying the Head Teachers
of the children to whom appointments were given, and enlisting
their assistance to see that the appointments are kept.
"The number of 'specials', those children needing urgent casual
attention, is rather misleading, for of the number attending the
Clinic as specials many do not really need the urgent attention that
their presence suggests.
"It is much to be regretted that the conservative treatment
allowed at the Clinic is of a rather limited nature. One is frequently
faced with the necessity for extensive treatment which as yet is not
provided for.
"Orthodontic treatment is also sorely needed, but the worried
parent and child have to be turned away with advice to seek the
services of a private dentist whose fees they can seldom afford.
"To get the apathetic parent interested is the outstanding need,
and this with the aid of all concerned in the welfare of the children
should soon be another accomplishment."
(i) Crippling Defects and Orthopaedics.— Medical treatment
for these defects is obtained under a comprehensive Orthopaedic
Scheme in charge of the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon,
Mr. Whitchurch Howell, F.R.C.S., who has a monthly clinic at
the Physically Defective School. Mr. Howell also acts as Honorary
Surgeon to the Brookfield Orthopaedic Hospital, a voluntary
Institution of 30 beds recognised as a Hospital School by both the
Ministry of Health and the Board of Education.
Two masseuses divide their time between the Hospital and the
Orthopaedic Clinic and the Physically Defective School. Your
Committee's cases have priority of admission to the Hospital.
Details of the work done under the scheme are given in the section
dealing with Defective Children. (Section 17.)