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Parents were informed of the defects detected in their children
during the medical inspection in the schools. Where the
defect was of a minor nature they were informed verbally. In the
case of more important defects the parents received a printed
notice advising them of the nature of the trouble and of the need
for obtaining treatment. A re-examination card was made out
for each such child. As soon as convenient, after the inspection
of the school had finished, the nurse returned to the school with
all the re-examination cards. The nurse then ascertained in each
case whether the defect from which the child had suffered was
receiving attention. When necessary, visits to the homes were
paid and the parents interviewed.
I he Medical Officer visited each school in the district three
times during the year in order to carry out the routine medical
inspections. The re-examination cards of all children with defects
were taken to the school at each of these visits. These children
were then re-examined. If the defects had not received attention
further notices were sent to the parents. Previously, the following
up had been carried out at a Special Inspection Clinic which
was held at the Health Centre every Tuesday afternoon. This
clinic has been discontinued.
8. MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Table IV gives a return of the defects treated during the
year under arrangements which have been provided by thw
Education Committee.
(a). Minor Ailments. The Health Centre at Pelham Eoad is
open daily for the treatment of minor ailments. In order to
provide greater continuity, facilities are available for the
treatment of minor ailments on Saturday mornings. With the
exception of bank holidays, the Health Centre was open
throughout the year.
(b) Tonsils and Adenoids Seventy-eight children were
operated on for enlarged tonsils and adenoids during 1932 at the
Nelson and North Wimbledon Hospitals under the Education
Committee's scheme. These patients remain in hospital overnight
after their operations. The children are examined by the
Medical Officer at the Health Centre before they return to
school. In addition, seventeen other children were operated on
for enlarged tonsils and adenoids by private practitioners or at
the voluntary hospitals. This makes a total of ninety-five
children who received surgical treatment. It will thus be seen
that thirty-five fewer children were submitted to operation for
the removal of tonsils and adenoids during 1932 as compared
with the previous year.
Full details are outlined in Table IV., Group 111.
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