Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tower Hamlets, London Borough]
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the day upon which the need arose.
Special Care Units
The special care unit for juniors which caters for those trainees who are too severely
handicapped to be able to be taught and trained with other juniors, was transferred in June
from the Junior Training Centre at Cornwall Avenue to more capacious accommodation at
University House Day Nursery.
In addition the special unit in the Council's Day Nursery for severely handicapped chi ldren
under 5 years of age increased its intake from 6 to 10 children.
Transport
Transport is provided by coach and minibus to take trainees from their homes and training
centres each day. Transport covers trainees attending the junior centres, adult female centres,
the special care unit, the day nursery special unit and psycho-geriatric patients attending
the Day Centre, whilst those attending the men's industrial training centre hitherto make their
own way.
Some trainees attending the industrial training centre who are unable to travel on public
transport unaccompanied were escorted by guides employed for the purpose. At the request of
the Parents' Association the Council agreed as an alternative to provide coach transport. A
purpose built coach provided with a lift at the rear for handling persons in wheelchairs is
used for transporting children to and from the special care unit (Photograph facing
this page)
Holidays
Many trainees from the training centres take part in a holiday at the holiday camp at
Dymchurch, Kent, joining groups of trainees from other London Boroughs. Recuperative holidays
are arranged for mentally ill persons under community care.
Parents Association
Effective liaison with the Tower Hamlets Society continued throughout the year. This
Society comprising mentally handicapped children and young persons receiving community care
and their parents, relatives and friends is a very active organisation in the Borough and
arranges many activities, social and cultural, for its charges
Quarterly meetings of the Society are attended by an officer of the department to further
the liaison between the Society and the Council, and to discuss common problems The Chairman
of the Health Committee attended a quarterly meeting to discuss suggestions to improve the
services and facilities provided by the Council,
The Council make available the use of its day centre premises to the Society one evening
a week, and on a Saturday evening each month for social and sports activities The junior
training centre premises are also made available one evening each week for experimental reading
and writing classes for mentally sub-normal children, at which the supervisor of the training
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