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and the more severe cases, as well as those requiring ascertainment
for deafness, are referred individually to the consulting
otologist or to the appropriate department of a local hospital.
ORTHOPAEDIC AND POSTURAL DEFECTS. The
Authority has an arrangement with the Children's Hospital,
Balaam Street, Plaistow, for the treatment of children suffering
from orthopaedic defects. The scheme normally covers both
short-term in-patient and out-patient treatment, but with the
in-patient section of the hospital still closed, it has only been
possible to secure operative treatment for the most urgent cases.
During the year 1946 the number of children treated as outpatients
was 154, with a total attendance of 2,428. Some cases
of orthopaedic and postural defects are treated at other hospitals
not under the Authority's scheme, and the number so dealt with
was 10. In addition, 12 children were under maintenance at
orthopaedic hospital schools approved by the Ministry of
Education.
Surgical appliances are provided where required, and a
system of periodic inspection is arranged, to ascertain when
repairs or renewals are required. Co-operation is maintained
with the schools in the case of children needing special exercises
or some modification of their physical training.
HEART DISEASE AND RHEUMATISM. During the
year 1946 the number of children who were discovered by
Assistant School Medical Officers to be suffering from organic
lesions of the heart sufficiently severe to require treatment was
22. Of these, 10 were discovered at routine medical inspection
and 12 at special inspections.
These cases were dealt with as follows:—
Admission to Heart Hospital Schools 3
Admission to Day Special Schools 4
Left school during the year (Form E.D. 211 D.P.
completed) 2
Left for Australia 1
Under observation at school clinics by area doctors 12
During the year 1946 the number of children treated as
in-patients in special heart schools was 13.
The following figures relate to work carried out in connection
with children found suitable for residential Heart Hospital
Schools: —
Number of admissions during the year 10
Number of discharges during the year 9
Number of cases ascertained during the year 14
Highest number under treatment during any one
time (September) 7
Number of cases in Heart Hospital Schools at end
of the year 4
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