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training for deaf children, or early reference to an ophthalmologist for treatment of visual defect
can give the children with such handicaps a chance to live and learn normally.
However, the great majority of children whose names are placed on the observation register do not
develop handicaps; nevertheless, it is still necessary to watch them carefully for the first two years of
life to exclude the possibility. A great volume of work is done in this process of elimination, and the
Medical Officer of Health is glad of this opportunity to pay tribute to the clinic staffs who bring such
patience and unremitting work to it.
Where more gross physical handicaps exist, the child is usually closely supervised by the hospital.
It is from the hospital staff that the Medical Officer of Health can learn of the child's progress so as
to be able to meet the need for arranging special schooling. The health visitor maintains contact with
the family of the child in hospital; she can be of great help to the parents in accepting the child's
handicap and making the best arrangements for dealing with the limitations the handicap will impose.
The Medical Officer of Health also employs the social workers in this field to an increasing extent,
particularly when the handicapped child reaches school age.
Mentally handicapped children can be seen at special clinics run by a specially qualified medical
officer. Here they are examined and informally assessed and the parents are given help and much
practical advice. These clinics are of great value, and the Medical Officer of Health envisages the
setting up in the near future of similar assessment and counselling clinics for physically handicapped
children, at which all the agencies concerned (general practitioner, hospital doctor, local authority
doctor, health visitor, social worker and parents) can meet and work out the best plan for the child's
care.
Handicapped Register
This is separate from the observation register, and contains only the names of children with substantial
handicaps. These children are examined at intervals in their early years, or if they are in the
care of hospitals, reports are requested as to their progress so that some assessment of the type of
schooling which will be required can be made. Many of the children will go eventually to special
schools, or special units in ordinary schools. Some, however, will be deemed able to attend ordinary
schools, and arrangements are being made for a special follow-up of this group.
Medical Examinations
A Senior Medical Officer of the Department acts as the Council's medical examiner. The duties
include the examination of new entrants to the City Council's service, members of the staff on
extended sick leave and consultation, when appropriate, with their general practitioners.
The Medical Examiner also comments on applications from disabled persons for exemption from
parking meter charges and if necessary carries out medical examinations of such applicants.
During 1965 a total of 634 medical examinations were carried out for the following reasons;—
Entrants to the Council's permanent staff 522
Extended sick leave 37
Disabled drivers' applications for exemption from parking charges 75
634
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
As part of the City Council's Welfare Department scheme for providing welfare services for blind
and partially sighted persons, 143 examinations were carried out in the Health Department during
1965 for the certification of such persons under the provisions of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
A further 21 certificates were accepted from hospitals and other local authorities.
NURSING HOMES
On 1st April, 1965 responsibility for the inspection and registration of nursing homes passed from
the London County Council to the London Boroughs and has continued to be carried out by the
Health Department under Part 4 of the Public Health Act, 1963, Part 3 of the Mental Health Act,
1959 and the appropriate Regulations made thereunder.
At 1st January, 1965 there were five registered nursing homes in the area of the present City of
Westminster taking medical and surgical patients. In addition, one of these homes was registered
to take patients suffering from mental illness and three to take maternity patients.
Two non-profit making homes taking medical, surgical or maternity patients, which were previously
exempted from registration, were registered by the London County Council under the Nursing Homes
Act, 1963, prior to 1st April, 1965.