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7
INTRODUCTION.
In presenting the report on the School Medical Service, I want
to emphasize two points particularly. Firstly, the excellent work
being done by Dr. Roberts in the Ophthalmic Clinic : Secondly,
the orthodontic work by the School Dental Surgeon, Mr. I. Cohen,
L.D.S.,
Ophthalmic Work.
The work in connection with visual defect in this district
continues to progress and the number of refractions done this year,
viz., 443, is the highest since the work began. Four hundred and
five spectacles were prescribed and 392 acutally obtained before
the end of the year, giving a percentage per school population
which compares favourably with surrounding districts. This is
partly due to the meticulous way in which Dr. Roberts follows up
the cases, in addition to the fact that she is well known to the
parents as a result of her activities in other directions in the school
and public health work of the department. Two other factors help
the efficiency: One, the flat rate charge of 4/6 for nickel frame
spectacles of good quality, and the other, that the measuring for
frames, etc., is done by our own nurses, and not by an optician
who is out to sell the most expensive frames that he can persuade
the parents to pay for.
As a result of my experience, both here and elsewhere, I am
of opinion that the employment of a whole-time officer at the
Refraction Clinics gives definitely better results than when the work
is done by a visiting Ophthalmologist. It is impossible for any
outside person coming to the district for a few hours weekly to
follow up and keep in touch with the children in the way that the
whole-time officer is able to do. In this district this is borne out by
the striking increase in the work done since 1924 when Dr. Roberts
first took it over. Up to that time the refractions had been done
by a Consulting Ophthalmologist. In 1923 there were 129 cases
submitted to refraction; in 1924 the number rose to 183, whilst
this year (1930) the total is 443, which gives a percentage of 5.3 of
the whole school population, against 2.2 in 1923.
In the Appendix will be found a report by Dr. Roberts on the
work and aims of our School Eye Clinic. Dr. Roberts, before entering
the Public Health Service, held the post of House Surgeon at
the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and later acted as Clinical
Assistant to the Ophthalmic Surgeon at Paddington Green
Children's Hospital.