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authority's dental staff, the condition of the premises and plans for their improvement. An official
letter on behalf of the two Secretaries of State was received in June. The recommendations were
in accordance with the improvements being carried out in the dental service.
School dental statistics are recorded on page 1 66.
ENURESIS CLINIC
Dr. V. Jennings—School Medical Officer
A new clinic for enuretic children was begun on 12.10.71 at Ickenham Clinic. It is held
weekly on Tuesday afternoons and is staffed by a school medical officer, a clinic nurse and a clinic
clerk. Patients are referred from other school medical officers, family doctors and from local
paediatricians.
Each new patient is allowed about | hour during which a full medical and social history is
taken and full physical examination and urine testing undertaken. Where relevant, reports may be
obtained from headteachers, health visitors and social workers. The method of treatment is then
decided upon. In all cases simple advice and management is given to the parent and the matter
is explained to the child in such a way as to relieve anxiety and guilt feelings and to give an
optimistic outlook. This alone has been shown in most other clinics to produce good results.
Most children are asked to keep a chart, marking the dry nights only with a drawing. In
addition, suitable children are given an alarm. This applies only to children over seven as full
co-operation is necessary. The bell is demonstrated in detail to parent and child by the clinic nurse
who may also visit the family during the week to ensure instructions are properly carried out.
The nurse is also able to follow up defaulters and sort out various practical problems which may
occur.
Types of Alarm
New alarms were purchased at the start of the Clinic which have proved to be very effective
due to their booster alarm for the deep sleeping children and to the fact that the mesh mats that
go with them are far more durable than the foil ones.
The old type of alarm is still being used but it was found necessary to purchase another 20
new ones in December owing to the heavy demand.
Up to 31st December there were 74 patients on the waiting list some of whom have been
waiting since June, and it is probable that further clinics will be necessary in different parts of the
Borough if the demand increases.
Results
33 new cases were seen in the 11 weeks up to 31 st December. The total number of attendances
was 86 and it is expected to see one or two new cases and seven to eight review cases each
session. Patients over seven are reviewed monthly until dry and then less frequently.
12 patients had been supplied previously with an alarm without success. One patient was
under seven years of age. 17 patients were issued with alarms. Three of these were dry by the
31st December. Several more were on the way to becoming dry and four who were just keeping
charts alone were showing marked improvement. It is not yet possible to assess the success of
the Clinic but the initial results are encouraging.
ENURESIS ALARMS
41 Enuresis Alarms were in use (issued in 1970) on the 1 st January, 1971.
During the course of the year, they were all returned with the exception of 2. These two
children are now being treated at the Enuresis Clinic, Ickenham. In 26 cases there had been a
successful result, whilst in 10 cases, the result was unsuccessful. The results of 3 cases were not
disclosed by the parents and are being investigated.
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