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REPORT ON THE WORK OP THE PAEDIATRIC CLINIC
by Dr. E. Hinden, M.D., M.R.C.P.
The work at the clinics, by and large, has followed the pattern of the previous years.
The great bulk of the children were referred either by the Assistant School Medical Officers
or by the Infant Welfare doctors. It is noteworthy that the general physique and nutrition
of the children was very good; patients were more often referred for obesity than for leanness.
In the course of the year, it was decided that the general administration of the Clinics would
be taken over by the West Ham Hospital Management Committee, as agents for the Regional Hospital
Board. I am happy to state that it is intended to allow the Clinics to continue, as heretofore,
on the premises of the other school clinics run by the Local Education Authority, an environment
which the children are used to, and where they feel at home.
It is noteworthy how the Infections of childhood are becoming less important, and how
their place is being taken by disturbances of development and of behaviour. Even rheumatic
/ever, which was quite a problem in the Borough as recently as five years ago, is fading out
of the picture. Now the field of childhood infections has been widely explored, and is by now
well understood. The grosser disturbances of metabolism, such as coeliac disease and diabetes,
can also be handled now with confidence and success. But the bad-tempered child, the stammerer,
the enuretic - we are still quite ignorant of the basic pathology of these conditions, and our
treatment is still conducted by trial and error. The same is true of the child who is too fat,
or too short, or has an adolescent kyphosis; and it is questions such as these which are taking
up more and more of the paediatrician's attention. Often he finds himself lured into the
fascinating country where medicine, education and philosophy meet-a territory where this
paediatrician, at least, has learned not to rush int
Radiological investigations continue to be carried out at St. Mary's Hospital, Plaistow,
and pathological ones at Whipps Cross Hospital. I am indeed grateful to these two hospitals
for their ready and informal help. Children who need in-patient treatment are admitted to the
Children's Department at Whipps Cross, once the permission of their family doctor has been
obtained. In general, the family doctor Is informed of the consultation and of the results
of all investigations. Treatment of any condition found is left in his hands - none is given
at the clinics themselves. It is of great benefit to the smooth working of the clinics that
the paeditrician In charge is attached to a big general hospital. It means that specialist
advice and treatment In any particular branch (such as Neurology, Dermatology and the like)
or in-patient treatment, can be arranged in a minute crrer the telephone.
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