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79
The difficulty at Hounslow is in another direction. The premises
are adequate, but the volume of work is such that it is practically
impossible to get through it, and quite impossible to attempt
any teaching or demonstration work whilst a session is in progress.
The re-organisation of the Ante-Natal Clinic under Dr.
Wrigley has been of enormous benefit. The care and manner with
which he deals with the patients has increased the work enormously.
Not only are the midwives bringing their cases up in
greater numbers, but what is the most satisfactory thing to my
mind is that the doctors in the district are now bringing their cases
up for consultation. A further session has had to be put on to
cope with the increasing numbers.
The increase in the dental work in both mothers and children
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is well shown in the report of the Dental Surgeon, attached. I
want again to emphasise the fact that the only way in which we
are getting the children between 2 and 5 back to the Clinic in any
number, is entirely due to the provision of dental treatment. Experience
elsewhere has shown that mere invitations to bring the
children up for a medical examination in the manner of a school
inspection, is almost entirely futile.
Personally, I see nothing short of nursery schools which will
bring these children under critical medical inspection, in what is
now shown to be the most vulnerable time of their life. It is only
the power of compulsion which will bring about adequate medical
supervision of these children.
In our own area, the keeping open of the minor ailments treatment
Clinics during the holidays has shown how directly the
compulsion, which is derived from the school in session, is the
critical factor in securing attendances for the necessary treatment.
Directly the schools close the attendances become comparatively
few.
Unless some other legal machinery can be devised to bring these
children under medical supervision, I am afraid the days will be