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Special day classes for maladjusted children
There are now 15 classes for maladjusted children. Hitherto children had only
been admitted to these classes on the recommendation of a psychiatrist and after
formal ascertainment. To avoid the delay caused by the long waiting period before
children can be seen it has been agreed that admission need not be delayed so long
as arrangements are made for the child to be seen by a psychiatrist as soon as possible
after his admission to the class.
Psychiatry at remand homes
In addition to six sessions a week given by Dr. Peter Scott, authority was
obtained for four sessions a week for psychiatrists to cover the work at Stamford
House, Cumber low Lodge and Wood Yale (juvenile court cases). It proved impossible
to obtain one psychiatrist who could undertake all four sessions, and three psychiatrists
were engaged for this work.
In September, 1951, the Ministry of Health ruled that psychiatric services in
remand homes should be provided by hospital authorities. Negotiations were
commenced with the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry to take over
the services of the psychiatrists concerned.
Psychiatry at other residential establishments
Arrangements were made with North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board for a psychiatrist from a nearby hospital to visit Ardale, an approved
school for senior boys.
The Council's whole-time psychiatrist paid regular visits to Wood Yale, Langley
House and Bredinghurst. He visited other residential establishments, at the request
of the officer-in-charge. to give advice on individual children. Unfortunately the
pressure of other work, particularly towards the end of the year when Dr. P. Scott
was absent sick, made it impossible for him to pay regular visits to some of the other
establishments where these would have been beneficial, or to deal with individual
children as quickly as desirable.
Diabetic unit
At the end of 1951, there were 39 children in the Council's residential diabetic
unit which is housed in the residential school at Hutton, Essex.
During their stay at Hutton the children are taught the principles of the control
of their disease and the importance of dietary. They are also trained to give themselves
injections of insulin and to guard against the accidents of a diabetic life.
The only restriction placed on the selection of pupils for admission is that they
should be suffering from diabetes mellitus, which cannot be adequately controlled
at home, and be of such intelligence as to profit by their stay.
The day to day care of the children was undertaken by a visiting medical
officer and by nursing staff with special experience. A consultant visited fortnightly
and at such other times as were necessary. The laboratory work to ensure control
was undertaken by a technician under the supervision of the consultant. The
pupils took part in all school activities, including a fortnight's visit to a holiday camp.
Children under 5 years of age
An inspector of the education officer's department continued to visit primary
schools with accommodation available for nursery classes after the needs of the
children over 5 had been met, and in those cases where she was prepared to approve
a nursery class, the divisional medical officer was consulted, and arrangements were
made to introduce some approximation to nursery school conditions.
At the end of 1951 there were 145 nursery classes with accommodation for
approximately 4,350 children over 3 years of age and upwards. In addition to a
midday meal, these children had one-third of a pint of milk daily and cod liver oil
and other vitamin preparations; for those who required them medicaments