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Child Guidance
On 1st October, 1971, the Greenwich Child Guidance Unit was
transferred from 83, Rochester Way, S.E.3., to its present location
at 18, Glenluce Road, SE3 7SB. Sixty-three cases were referred
to the Unit during 1971 and 24 cases were awaiting their first
interview at the end of the year when 42 cases were still attending
the clinic; 34 cases had been closed, 18 applications to attend
the Unit withdrawn and a further 38 cases re-opened. Although
up to April of the current year there had been no staff changes,
the full-time Psychiatric Social Worker resigned early in July and
was replaced in October by a part-time officer. As before, the
staff of this Unit consists of a Psychiatrist and an Educational
Psychologist. Four cases were referred to the Unit directly by family
doctors, a novel arrangement introduced during 1971.
Speech Therapy
Facilities in Greenwich during the current year were improved
by an increase in equivalent full-time I.L.E.A. Speech Therapists
from 2.9 to 3.6 which enabled treatment to 515 pupils to be undertaken.
As before, however, the situation demanded the maintenance
of a small list of children awaiting treatment.
Prophylaxis
Altogether, 1971 proved to be a satisfactory year and, once again,
it is appropriate to comment on the high protective state of Greenwich
schoolchildren in relation to other Inner London Boroughs.
Excluding the City of London, this Borough occupied first place
with regard to poliomyelitis prophylaxis, second in respect of diphtheria
and whooping cough immunisations and fourth in smallpox
vaccinations.
Compared with the percentages of 93.0, 92.9, 88.3 and 71.9 for
poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough and smallpox prophylaxis
in Greenwich, averages for Inner London as a whole were
89.4, 89.4, 83.9 and 67.9 respectively.
School Premises — Hygiene Reports
In a number of cases the School Medical Officers reported defects
in the sanitary arrangements in certain schools and drew attention
to others where standards of cleanliness and tidiness were inadequate.
Such complaints were duly noted and forwarded to the
Local Divisional Office for remedial action.
Observations
Despite a rise in the school roll of over 500, a reduction in the