View report page

When children are in care in residential establishments the Senior Medical Officer who carries out
regular routine visits follows up those who suffer from physical or mental handicap. Hospital reports are
requested as necessary and close contact is maintained with the Social Services Department in individual
cases as necessary.
Social workers and Peripatetic Teachers are attached to Frank Barnes (Deaf) & Hargrave Park
(Partially Hearing Unit) Schools. Social workers are also attached to Cloudesley (Physically Handicapped)
School and an I.L.E.A. Social Worker based in Islington Public Health Department is also attached to the
Autistic Unit at Horizon (Educationally Sub-Normal) School.
Deaf children of all ages are the special responsibility of a Senior Social Worker (Health Services), who
liaises with the Principal Medical Officer for constant review of the children.
Handicapped school leavers are helped to find employment through the established arrangements
between the Borough Services and The Handicapped Young Persons Section of the Youth Employment
Services.
Throughout 1972 all these services continued at an intensive level. The number of children and
young persons remaining on the Handicap Register at the and of the year was 1631 compared with 2141
for 1971. A total of 21 special Advisory Clinic Sessions were held at which 161 children were seen; there
were also 137 home visits and 118 other visits made to Day Nurseries and Play Groups; the Clinical
Psychologist held 40 1-hour sessions of individual thereapy. There were 108 children remaining on the
Special Advisory Clinic list at the end of the year.
SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY
VISITS BY MEDICAL OFFICERS
Thirty-four visits to elderly persons were made by senior medical staff of the department at the
request of general practitioners, home visitors, etc., in circumstances where it was felt compulsory removal
to hospital might be necessary under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act 1948. Fifteen cases were
dealt with under Section 47, plus an application to the Magistrates Court for an extension order on a
previous case, for a further period of three months, which was granted. In addition, six persons subsequently
agreed to be admitted to hospital or a welfare home to receive care and attention.
HOME VISITING
The work of home visiting of elderly persons has continued at an intensive level, the number of persons
visited having increased considerably. Visitors' contacts with the Social Services Department, particularly
in respect of Home Help and Meals-on-Wheels services, were frequent, as was their liaison with general
practitioners and Home Nurses; occasions also arose when the help of the Housing Department was sought
in tracing the movements of elderly persons.
Details of visists for the year are as follows:-
Persons visited 4,738 Visits paid 11,624
Households visited 42 Visits paid 55
Unsuccessful visits 1,690
Total of all visists 13,369
SPECIAL CLEANSING
From time to time it was found that property occupied by elderly or infirm persons was in such an
unclean, verminous or insanitary condition as to warrant special cleansing by the department prior to the
introduction of home help and other services. Seventeen such cases, reported by the public health inspectors,
home visitors, hospital authorities, etc., were dealt with during the year.
74