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ORTHOPAEDIC AND POSTURAL DEFECTS. The Children's Hospital, Balaam Street, Plaistow,
continued to provide a service for children suffering from orthopaedic defects In the same
way as before the introduction of the National Health Service. In 1951 the number of
children treated as out-patients was 286 with a total attendance of 2,132 and, In addition,
18 children were treated as in-patients. A further 5 children were In orthopaedic hospital
schools.
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In accordance with the new National Health Service arrangements, surgical appliances
were provided by the hospital.
HEART DISEASE AND RHEUMATISM. Under the Ministry's classification all conditions of
the heart and circulation are grouped together under one heading. The majority of these
conditions consist of cases of anaemia and functional disturbances of the heart. During the
year under review 76 cases were referred at Periodic and Special Inspections for treatment
for "Heart and Circulation" as defined on Form 10M. This number includes cases of congenital
defects.
Among the school children referred to the paediatrician for opinion for the first time
during the year, 20 had a heart murmur which was considered of no significance and could be
ignored} 26 had a cardiac defect, and some of these had been previously recorded by the
school doctors.
The above numbers do not include cases with known heart lesions sent to the paediatrician
for further advice, e.g. fitness for games, etc. The number of children for whom it is necessary
to advise restrictions In physical activity is surprisingly small. This is in accordance with
modern views on the subject. Cases referred for observation only were 127, 73 being found
at Periodic inspections and 5^ at Special Inspections.
No cases of organic heart disease were recommended for Heart Hospital Schools or the Day
Special School during the year. All cases of heart defect are kept under observation by the
area doctors. During the year 1951, the number of children treated as in-patients In special
heart schools was 3, one boy at St.John's Open-Air School, Woodford, and two girls at West
Wickham.
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