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5. Clerical Staff. The part-time use of a clerk would be
of value.
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 covers both short-term
in-patient and out-patient treatment. During the year 1947
the number of children treated as out-patients was 154, with a
total attendance of 2,110; and, in addition, 23 children were
treated as in-patients. In view of the limited capacity of the
Hospital and its very recent re-opening after the war-time
closure, some cases of orthopaedic and postural defects were
treated at other Hospitals not under the Authority's scheme,
and the number so dealt with was 34. In addition, 15 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 necessary. 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. The change in
the Ministry's classification whereby all conditions of the heart
and circulation (including anaemia) are grouped together under
one heading has made it a little difficult to separate the numbers
of true organic heart disease from the bulk of less serious
defects. The total recommended for treatment numbered 99
(63 at routine inspections and 36 at special inspections), which
was a big increase over the figure of 22 recorded last year
under the old classification of organic heart disease. Most of
this year's cases were not organic heart disease, but at the
same time there does appear to have been a small real increase
in this condition.
These cases were dealt with as follows :—
Admission to Heart Hospital Schools 9
Admission to Day Special Schools 7
Under observation at School Clinics by area
doctors 82
Died 1
During the year 1947 the number of children treated as
in-patients in special heart schools was 19.
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 15
Number of discharges during the year 12
Number of cases ascertained during the year 11
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