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With the exception therefore of High Myopes whose educational condition we are hoping
to improve in the near future by the provision of the Leeds Reading Aid to each child, the
remaining aspirations cannot be translated into practice at present, but without aspirations there
is no progress, and I shall continue to hope that further advance may yet be made.
E. L. ROBERTS.
(e). Nose and Throat Defects.
Four hundred and fifteen children were referred for treatment on account of nose and
throat defects. Of this number, 57 were operated on under the arrangements made by the
Authority.
In the early part of the year the Borough Council entered into an arrangement with the
Middlesex County Council for the operative treatment of our tonsils and adenoids cases at the
West Middlesex Hospital.
The fee per case was fixed at £1 lis. 6d., which included all medical fees, and maintenance
of the patient for 48 hours. In the event of a case needing retention in hospital for a
further period, it was agreed that the Education Authority would pay the current daily
maintenance charge. This arrangement was made in order to ensure that our cases went into
hospital the day before operation and were retained for at least 48 hours.
The pressure upon the accommodation at the hospital has so far greatly impeded the full
working of the agreement and the year ends with a long waiting list of cases.
The introduction of an increased fee made it necessary to reconsider the income scale on
which the parents' contribution towards the cost of the operation is based. This scale is given
in full under the heading No. 17.—Parents' Payments (page 41).
Tonsils and Adenoids.
The appreciation of one's efforts on behalf of the children, which, I am glad to say, have
met with practically universal approval, seem to leave some persons entirely cold and even hostile.
The following is a letter I received with regard to a form sent to a parent in respect of
tonsils and adenoids operation, which, if the circumstances warrant it, can be performed either at
a reduced fee or free :—
" This school children's operation should be quite free, like diphtheria injections.
You will find parents will ignore your appeal and refuse to answer the questions on your
' charity ' form. Poor parents nowadays refuse to beg, not even for their children.
In U.S.S.R. medical treatment is free to school children without form filling,
scrounging for Hospital letters and charity mongering.
Another point is why should helpless children suffer on account of callous, mean
or indifferent parents."
Mr. Elwin H. T. Nash,
Chief " Nosey Parker,"
Public Health Dept.,
94a, Bath Road,
HOUNSLOW.
LOCAL.
The manner in which the letter was addressed, and went through the post, should, I
suppose, make one feel definitely humble. I am afraid the effect was not what was expected.
The gratitude and praise of parents that I have dealt with is one of the things T take into my
retirement as a very very precious memory.
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