View report page

21
Supply of Spectacles.
The attendance of the dispensing optician from the Hospital
Management Committee is of very great advantage to all concerned.
(ii) Orthoptic Clinic.—Mrs. E. Silvester, D.B.O., has contributed
the following report on the work done at the clinic:—
Number of cases investigated 135
Number of cases treated for squint and amblyopia 206
Number discharged 100
Number referred to hospital for operation 52
Number operated on 33
Total attendances during year 2,005
(iii) Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic.—Dr. Francis Clarke reports
as follows:—
During the past year, 1952, ihe attendances at the regular
weekly E.N.T. clinic have kept well up to the average of previous
years. Those children who were examined at the aural clinic and
for whom it was considered necessary to have a course of special
treatment at the treatment clinics also attended regularly to complete
their treatment. There are always a few who will either not
attend, or fail to complete the treatment but this number is usually
very small.
During the course of the year a system was introduced of
making a special report for the general practitioner with whom
the patient is registered, in each new case referred to the clinic.
The medical officer who in the first instance refers the child to the
E.N.T. clinic for examination, etc., records the essential clinical
notes of the conditions which he finds on a special form and this
form, with notes, is sent to the clinic with the patient. After detailed
examination at the clinic, the final clinical findings, diagnosis
and suggested treatment are filled in the space provided on
the form and a copy is sent to the general practitioner and school
medical officer. The principle of the system is sound as it establishes
a useful liaison between the family practitioners and the
Public Health Service.
The main defects found amongst the children seen at the
E.N.T. clinic were much the same as those referred to in previous
reports. I must again note the considerable reduction in the instances
of chronic ear discharge. There were less than a dozen
cases of chronic otorrhoea seen during the year and of these, three
were old post-operated mastoids which are usually verv intractable.