View report page

31
Crippling Defects and Orthopaedics.—Medical treatment of
these defects is given under an orthopaedic scheme in charge of
the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr. Whitchurch Howell,
F.R.C.S., who holds 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 whole time between the Hospital and
the Orthopaedic and Massage Clinic at the Physically Defective
School. Your Authority'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).
Rheumatism Clinic.—A scheme to provide a Rheumatism
Clinic was approved at the beginning of the year, and after visits
had been paid to similar Clinics in London it was decided to
invite Dr. Wilfrid Sheldon, Physician to the Hospital for Sick
Children. Great Ormond Street, to take charge.
There is no question that the Clinic has fully justified its
establishment, and its usefulness in dealing with patients showing
Rheumatic symptoms after Infectious Diseases has been particularly
appreciated.
Two beds were reserved at Hawkesbury and 1 at Edgar Lee
Convalescent Homes for 1 year, chiefly for cases recommended
from the Clinic.
The following report by Dr. Sheldon gives a full account of the
organisation and objects of the Clinic:—
"The new Rheumatism Clinic, which began work just before the
end of the summer term 1931, is now six months old, and in the
following report the nature and scope of the work which has been
undertaken is presented :—
"Personnel.—The Clinic meets each Thursday afternoon at
2 p.m., and there have been up to now 22 sessions. In addition to
myself, there are 3 Assistants on whom the success of the Clinic
largely depends. The organisation of appointments for new and
old patients is carried out by Mr. Rushton. From 15 to 20 patients
are seen each session, and appointments are issued at half-hourly
intervals during the afternoon so as to minimise the amount of