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In cases where payment was not made, the spectacles remained in the Education Department,
and the child went without, and was not seen again by the Ophthalmic Surgeon. The result
of this was that a large number of spectacles had accumulated which had to be paid for by the
Authority and which had benefited no one; it was useless to write off the money owing and give
the spectacles to the children, as a long interval had elapsed since they were prescribed and the
spectacles would not have been suitable. This was an unsatisfactory system and a change for
the better was made by having the spectacles delivered to the Health Department so that we had
direct control, and, to avoid spectacles being ordered and then not paid for by the parents, none
were ordered until half the price had been paid. All cases where spectacles were prescribed
but not ordered were followed-up and if at the end of three months they were still unpaid the
case was reported to the Committee for further action, which usually resulted in a reference to
the N.S.P.C.C. and in the end the child obtained the spectacles.
This applied only to parents who were in a position to pay, or who refused to disclose
their family income. All necessitous cases were given the spectacles free and without delay.
This system worked fairly well, and was a great improvement on the old one—and it
remained in force from 1925-1936. During those years, however, there was always a small
number of children who were penalised by the parents' neglect to pay, because there was inevitably
a delay, often of months before the child obtained the spectacles which it needed.
Figures, given later, show that over a period of years the discrepancy at the end of the
year between the number of spectacles prescribed and those obtained was not great, but these
figures only show the final result, and do not indicate the delay which may have occurred before
spectacles have been received, e.g. a child could have spectacles prescribed in January and not
receive them until December. This would be shown in the table as spectacles prescribed during
the year—1, spectacles obtained during the year—1.
In July, 1926, the Committee agreed that all children for whom spectacles were prescribed
should receive them at once, irrespective of payment—repairs being done on the same basis. In
cases where full payment has not been made, the parent (or child in the absence of the parent)
signs that the spectacles have been received.
At the end of each quarter all outstanding debtors are notified to the Borough Treasurer
who deals with the matter through his Office.
This is a splendid system from the point of view of the real aim of Eye Clinics, viz., the
conservation of vision, as now there is no delay in each child obtaining the necessary spectacles,
and the number of spectacles obtained in the year is the same as the number prescribed.
The actual amount still owing both for new spectacles and repairs is not great. From
July, 1936, to the end of 1937 the amount outstanding was £18 17s. 4d. and (February, 1938),
some of this has already been paid off.
The official demand note from the Borough Treasurer has a much greater effect in producing
payments from dilatory parents than communications on the subject from the Health
Department.
Progress of the work of the Eye Clinic since 1923.
The numbers attending the Clinic have steadily grown, due in part to the growth of the
district, but also to the more complete scheme of work which has been evolved.
In April, 1935, the Middlesex County Council's scheme for the provision of treatment for
Secondary Scholars at the Local Authority's Eye Clinic came into force which has made a small
but increasing addition to the work.
Throughout the period pre-school children referred from the Maternity and Child Welfare
Centres have been seen though their number has been small.
All Clinic sessions were held at Hounslow owing to lack of accommodation in other
parts of the area.
In July, 1934, the Busch House Centre, Isleworth, was opened and from that date two
sessions have been held weekly during term at the Hounslow Centre and one at Isleworth,
extra sessions being held when necessary at Hounslow, where there is always a long waiting list.
One regular session at Isleworth has been sufficient to keep the work up-to-date, as the
Clinic there serves a smaller area, and the response to treatment is not so good.
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