View report page

85
Provision of physiotherapy at Summerley Special Care Unit
Following discussion between the Health Department and St.
George's Hospital, Tooting, it was agreed that a physiotherapist
from the Paediatric Department should attend the Special Care
Unit at Summerley Street Day Nursery on a weekly basis commencing
February 1971, for a trial period of six months. The
Unit admits up to eight children at a time, most of whom are
severely physically handicapped and require physiotherapy.
In addition to carrying out actual treatment, the physiotherapist
was able to advise the nursery staff on how to handle the children
in order to prevent or mitigate the appearance of secondary handicaps.
Attention was drawn to means whereby opportunity could
be provided to enable the children to achieve their maximum
potential and numerous practical improvements such as the provision
of suitable chairs, tables, toilet fittings and toys were
introduced.
The association has been of the greatest benefit and has proved
to be a very practical link between the hospital and local authority.
It has demonstrated beyond doubt that there is a need for an
extension of the service to other handicapped children in the
community.
Day nurseries and child-minders
With the passing of the Health Services and Public Health Act,
1968, responsibility for the supervision of day nurseries and childminders
was transferred to the Director of Social Services. This
changeover was carried out in two stages, the responsibility for
the Council's day nurseries being handed over to the new Department
in May 1971, whilst the registration and supervision of
private day nurseries and child-minders was transferred in the
following October.
The medical officers of the Health Department continue to visit
the Council's day nurseries for routine and special examinations
of the children attending and in particular to offer advice on the
problems of those who are handicapped.
The registration of child-minders, playgroups and private day
nurseries continued to make heavy demands on the staff of the
community nursing service. A total of 339 new applications were
received, 281 were withdrawn and 36 applications were cancelled.
Considerable time was given advising applicants wishing to be
registered as to the requirements of the amendments contained in
the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968. There was an
additional burden of work in that all those persons previously
registered had to be advised as to the arrangements taking place
later in the year when the Social Services Department would become
responsible for their continuing registration and supervision.