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been placed in a prominent position in the Clinic, and parents
were invited to contribute voluntarily towards the cost of
treatment, but the total result was under £10 annually.
The inhabitants of Wimbledon cannot be called "poor"
in any strict sense, and therefore the Committee had no other
alternative than to draw up a more rigid scale of payment.
A provisional scheme was put in force, but was abandoned
at the end of one month's trial for the following reasons.
It was found that children with minor ailments did not return
to the Clinic for treatment, and that the conditions became
rapidly aggravated from want of treatment and spread to
other members of the family or to other children. Such conditions
are due in many cases to poverty, dirt and overcrowding,
and are unfortunately regarded by the parents as trifling
in their early stages. Eighty per cent. of all minor ailments
come from the four schools with the poorest scholars. It was,
therefore, decided by the Committee that, as early treatment
was essential from a strictly preventive standpoint, these
conditions should be treated free of charge for the first week.
and thereafter, at a rate of 6d. per week to a maximum of
two shillings. The intention of retaining any payment is to
encourage home co-operation.
Children attending the dental clinic under the trial
scheme also failed to return for treatment, but in this case
the reason was entirely different. It had previously been
noted that the acceptances of the offer of treatment had varied
with the class of scholar attending the school—86% accepting
in the better class schools, and 30% in the poorer. The
parents in the better class schools under the new scheme
requested the treatment and were prepared to pay fees, but
they were unwilling to disclose the family income, and treatment
consequently was refused.
The scheme and scale of payments were therefore revised,
and have now been in operation for 6 months and are proving
satisfactory. Emergency treatment, vision testing and cleansing
are carried out free of charge; the charges for minor
ailments are stated above; and tonsil and adenoid operations
and dental treatment are based on income scale, but the enquiries
are made personally and informally, and a certain
amount of latitude is allowed to the medical and dental
officers. No ease is refused treatment.
(d) Savings Associations:—During 1926, arrangements
were made with these Associations whereby the contributions
made by parents to these Societies would be recognised for
school children requiring operations for tonsils and adenoids
and recommended by the local School Medical Officers. This
arrangement has removed a distinct hardship to many parents.
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