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The problem of transport for the severely handicapped children became
acute and it was apparent that the existing transport arrangements were
stretched to the limit. Future planning must provide for the transport of
severely handicapped children from any part of the Borough.
The medical departments of the school continued to work to capacity.
The School Medical Officer, Dr. Thelma Wield, saw 291 children at routine
medical examinations, 110 parents being present. Specialist medical examinations
were held by Mr. McQueen who saw 25 children, 18 parents being
present; Dr. Fanthorpe who saw 30 children, 16 parents being present and
Dr. Robson who saw 21 children, 14 parents being present. All arrangements
and records are kept by Sister Jordan and her staff in addition to dealing
with routine medical matters and coping with 102 major epileptic fits, an
increase of 120% on last year.
The Physiotherapy Department has excelled itself. The total number of
treatments for the year - 13,654 is a 25% increase on last year. The handicaps
treated were 68 chest cases, 20 spina bifida, 31 cerebral palsy, 5
muscular dystrophy and 19 miscellaneous. Great credit is due to Miss Smith
and her staff for their efficiency and efforts under difficult circumstances.
The Speech Therapy Department gave 1,176 treatment sessions, together
with 74 review sessions. During the year 37 new cases were assessed, 10
cases were closed. There were 25 children on treatment and 25 on supervision.
I wish to thank the Principal School Medical Officer and all the school
medical staff for their co-operation and efforts on behalf of St. Giles.
PUPILS SUFFERING FROM A SPEECH DEFECT
In Day Special School 1
In Day Unit 10
Five children were admitted to the Unit during the year including one
deaf child who was awaiting a residential placement and had become a
problem at his day school. This may appear peculiar but it is mentioned
to emphasise that in a small Unit of this kind, almost individual programmes