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RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAY HOMES
During the year the following recommendations were forwarded to the County Health Department
for placing in suitable recuperative holiday homes:—
Adults 293
Children 19
Total 312
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
Routine Medical Inspections.
The 7—8 year age-group is examined in addition to the age groups required by the Ministry of
Education—entrants, final-year pupils at primary schools, and leavers The inclusion of the 7—8 year agegroup
since the middle of 1951 has ensured that attention is paid to pupils when they most need it—
between the ages of 5 and 10.
The number of medical inspections increased for 1953, particularly for the 7—8 year age-group,
largely because they were the children born during the peak year for births following the end of the war.
Orthopcedic Department.
A visiting Orthopaedic Surgeon attends Stonebridge Clinic once every two weeks to examine and
treat children, and he also visits Lower Place School periodically to give attention to the physically handicapped
children attending there. There is one whole-time physiotherapist employed who works under the
direction of the Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Swimming.
In the summer of 1949, the Amenities Committee of the Borough gave permission for the exclusive
use of the swimming baths one hour each week for handicapped children from Lower Place School. The
water (fresh) is heated to a temperature of 80°F. The children, selected by the Orthopaedic Surgeon and
passed by the Senior Assistant School Medical Officer, are taken to the baths and given swimming
exercises by three instructors, supervised by a physiotherapist and a doctor. Because water is denser than
air, it is much easier for a child with weakness in a muscle or limb to use it in water. The child gradually
gains more control over his weak or paralysed muscles and becomes generally more confident.
Since 1949, 62 children have attended, 11 of whom have returned to ordinary school; 2 have left
the district; 18 have now left school, and 2 have transferred to training college. At present (in 1953) 27
are attending, of whom 9 had poliomyelitis. Of the others, 4 are spastics, 5 have congenital defects, 5 are
amputees, one has a tuberculous limb and 3 are asthma sufferers.
No fewer than 20 of the children attending since 1949 have gained swimming certificates for
25 yards, and 7 for 100 yards. The children enjoy it immensely and many have found marked improvement
in the use of their limbs and control of muscles, and have received great enjoyment when they have learned
to swim. Some of the children who are still unable to walk without calipers and sticks have almost complete
freedom of movement in the water.
Speech Therctpy.
There are two whole-time speech therapists employed, whose duties consist of treating children
attending the clinics and Lower Place School for Physically Handicapped Pupils.
Owing to the increase in the number of spastics and other children requiring speech training, the
waiting list rose from 47 to 167, and on 30th September, 1953, a Medical Officer of the Ministry of Education
visited Lower Place School and reported "that the number of children requiring speech therapy is such