View report page

The rheumatic child should not suffer any unnecessary deprivation of a normal life
and full education. The number of children on restrictions is extremely low. The motto
should be "a minimum of invalidism and a maximum of normality". No case of organic heart
disease was recommended for heart hospital school but one child with this condition was
admitted to Elizabeth Fry Special School during the year.
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE PAEDIATRIC CLINIC
by
E.Hinden, M.D., M R.C.P.
The work of the consultative school clinics has continued on the same lines as in
previous years; most of the children have been referred by the assistant school medical
officers, with a few sent direct by general practitioners.
There has been an obvious lessening in the number of children seen over the years.
This is in line with the steady reduction in the infantile mortality rate, and both are
reflections of the improvement in the health of the children. It is rare nowadays to see
a child who is suffering from malnutrition; we still do most with children who are much smaller
and lighter than their fellows, but this is due either to a personal idiosyncrasy of the child,
or else to organic disease. It is hardly ever caused by defects in nutrition. Even a few
years ago rheumatic fever and its sequel, rheumatic heart disease, was responsible for a
substantial amount of invalidism. The disease is now much less prevalent, and less severe;
so that even when it occurs it is usual for the child to make a complete recovery. Most of
the children seen are suffering from disturbances of function - the behavious disorders.
Mental defect also plays a large part in causing children to be referred.
I should like to thank the Radiologist at St.Mary's Hospital, Plaistow, for carrying
out x-ray examinations when necessary; the Pathologist at Whipps Cross Hospital for giving
me laboratory facilities; the school doctors who have referred the children to me, and the
family doctors who have sanctioned the referrals.
The paediatric clinics are administered by the West Ham Group of the Hospital Management
Committee but are held on the West Ham Education Committee premises as follows:-
Stratford School Clinic,
84 West Ham Lane, E.15-
Thursdays from 1.30 to 5-15 P.m.
Rosetta School Clinic,
Sophia Road, Custom House, E.l6.
Wednesdays from 1.30 to 5-15 p.m.
Towards the end of the year the clinics at Rosetta School Clinic were held fortnightly
owing to reduction In the numbers referred.
TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDHOOD. The number of children in whom active tuberculosis is found
remains comparatively small but has shown no marked trend of recent years. The number of
children found to be suffering from tuberculosis was 14 In 1952 and the same number was found
in 1953; while in 1954 and 1955 the number was 13 in each year.
113