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There were also many children found to be suffering from debility
and gastro-intestin.al disturbances, including several cases of suspected
appendicitis. The remainder were cases of minor
accidents, chilblains, etc.
6. FOLLOWING UP.
The procedure of following up defects discovered during the
routine medical inspection in 1933 was as follows:—
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.
The Medical Officer visited each school in the district twice
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.
An alteration was also carried out in the following up of
children, with defective vision. The particulars of every child
for whom glasses had been prescribed were entered up on a
special eye card. These cards were taken to the school with the
other re-examination cards at each visit/ of the medical inspector.
Where the vision with glasses was found to be no longer satisfactory
appointments were made for the children to be examined
once more at the Refraction Clinic by the Oculist. These periodical
inspections of children suffering from defective vision also
ensured that the glasses which had been prescribed for them were
being continuously worn. Furthermore, lenses which were dirty
or broken, bent or broken frames, and spectacles which could no
longer be worn without some discomfort, were quickly detected
and steps were taken to rectify matters.
This arrangement has also taken a great deal of pressure off
the Refraction Clinic, thus enabling the time of the Oculist to
be devoted almost entirely to retinoscopies.
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