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possible. During 1969 the number of babies notified as congenitally malformed was 69.
The number of handicapped children on the register at 31 December, 1969 was 643. (See
also the report on the School Health Service.)
We are particularly fortunate in Southwark to have a comprehensive assessment
centre for multiple handicapped children at Guy's Hospital. This centre, which is known
as the "Newcomen Clinic" has been designed to supplement existing services and is
concerned with young children from the age of six months when the possibility of
handicaps is usually first raised, and when there is a need to assess, advise and help
families. It also deals with specific cases where specialist services and knowledge are
required. Among cases which are dealt with are suspected visual and auditory defects,
delayed or disordered development, gross physical handicap and obscure problems of
assessment and management.
Two additional sessions were started during the year and one of the existing
sessions is now conducted by one of this Council's Principal Medical Officers. 50% of the
cost of a specialist to run the other sessions is borne by. Southwark and a health visitor is
provided for the necessary follow-up with children and families from Southwark. Special
follow-up sessions are held at one or two of the child health centres where the Principal
Medical Officer for maternity and child health services, who is in close touch with the
work of the Newcomen Clinic, is able to see the children referred by the centre. If
specialist medical advice is needed for any child seen under this follow-up scheme, an
immediate appointment is made for further attention at the Newcomen Clinic.
Impaired Hearing in Young Children
Standard screening tests for the hearing of babies and young children were carried
out by medical staff with special training in this work. Any child thought to have
impaired hearing was referred, with the consent of the general practitioner, to the
Council's otologist for further examination and added to the handicapped register.
Young children with impaired hearing who required a hearing environment and
children who failed to acquire speech because their parents were deaf or because of
language difficulties in the home, were, on the recommendation of the otologist,
permitted to attend day nurseries for three hour sessions without charge.
Phenylketonuria
Phenylketonuria is a rare inborn metabolic disorder in which a baby is born without
one of the essential chemicals that help to break down food for digestion: this results in
one of the ingredients of most foods building up to a high level in the body, which have a
damaging effect on the brain. Screening tests for the detection of phenylketonuria using
"Phenistix" reagent strips were carried out routinely on all young babies; those thought
to be at special risk were retested.
The procedure was changed in November when the Guthrie test was introduced.
This involves the taking of a blood sample and is found to give greater accuracy in
detection.
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