HC Deb 19 March 1897 vol 47 cc1022-3
DR. FABQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the managers of the London Pauper Schools have for some years had the option of sending the children affected with ophthalmia to the Hanwell Ophthalmic Hospital, but have frequently not availed themselves of the opportunity; and, can he state why the Sutton Board kept a boy named Reid, affected with purulent ophthalmia, first for many months in the Herne Bay Convalescent Home, and later moved him into the Sutton School Infirmary, although Dr. Downes, the Medical Inspector of the Local Government Board, had expressly recommended the managers to remove the lad to the Hanwell Ophthalmic Hospital?

THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.

It is not the case that the Guardians generally in London have had the option of sending all the children affected with ophthalmia to the school referred to, as the accommodation has been inadequate for the reception of all children suffering from that disease. With respect to the boy Reid, the Local Government Board are informed by the managers of the South Metropolitan School District, that on the 5th June 1894, they received a Report from the Medical Officer of the Herne Bay establishment, to the effect that William Reid was suffering from chronic ophthalmia, and might be benefited by treatment at Hanwell, and that the managers directed that the boy should be sent to Hanwell as soon as he could be received there. On the 22nd June 1894, a letter was sent to the clerk to the managers of the Central London School District, asking if there were vacancies in the school. On the 17th of the following month a further letter to the same effect was written, and on the 21st July the reply was that there were no vacancies. Under these circumstances the boy was transferred to the Brighton Road School at Sutton, and was treated for ophthalmia in the infirmary there.

MR. A. J. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)

said that he should like to ask whether the boy in question, who was suffering from this most dangerous complaint, was not allowed to mix with a number of other children?

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

said that, according to the statement he had received, the boy had been placed in the infirmary.