View report page

126
The work of visiting the various wards of the Hospital and the
supervision of the Artificial Pneumothorax cases has so increased
that I find there is insufficient time for the routine round. To
meet this difficulty I have decided in future to visit the Hospital
weekly instead of fortnightly as previously, as I regard the work,
apart from its interest, as one of our most important functions.
I should like to take this opportunity of recording my gratitude
to the Medical Staff for their unfailing courtesy and ready cooperation.
In addition to the association with the various public services,
we also work in close and friendly contact with the local charitable
organisations. The Bethnal Green and Hackney Branches of the
Invalid Children's Aid Association, of which Committees both
Tuberculosis Officers are members, in particular, have been most
helpful and have sent a considerable number of our debilitated
children to convalescent homes, either at the seaside or in the
country. The Charity Organisation Society has assisted in the
supply of surgical instruments, dentures, clothing, etc., and the
Jewish Board of Guardians, Soldiers and Sailors Help Association,
and Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens Families Association have given
financial assistance in necessitous cases.
The children attending Stormont House School have, without
exception, made satisfactory progress during the year. The
School, which is admirably situated on Hackney Downs, has
accommodation for 90 scholars. With one or two exceptions all
the children are patients of the Tuberculosis Dispensaries at the
Metropolitan and Victoria Park Hospitals, admission being restricted
to notified or "suspect" cases of tuberculosis. The
Classes are held in special open-air shelters, but ample indoor
accommodation is available in bad weather. The children are
kept under strict medical supervision, records of weight and temperature
being kept by the nurse, who visits the school daily,
while the Medical Officer makes frequent examinations of the
children, and supervises the exercise and rest of each child. Hot
milk during the morning and afternoon, together with an excellent
mid-day meal are provided. Breakfast may also be supplied to
any child who has not had a satisfactory meal before leaving home.
During the year 18 children were discharged as fit for work and
9 transferred to ordinary elementary schools, as further stay in
an open-air school was considered no longer necessary. All the
scholars leaving school were placed in suitable employment by
the School Care Committee.
Satisfactory as the immediate result of treatment at an openair
school is, it is encouraging to learn that the after history of
these children is equally convincing. A breakdown later is a very