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Despite the heavy case-loads, a certain amount of the almost equally essential advisory
work was carried out. Regular visits were made to the special schools and primary schools for
screening purposes, consultations and advice to teachers. Talks were given to groups of parents,
teachers and student nurses.
A certain amount of career work was undertaken, in the form of dissemination of
information, and receiving visitors in the clinic. Students from speech therapy colleges visited
the clinics regularly, for observation, and to work under the therapist's supervision.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
It is anticipated that in future a much more comprehensive service will be given, since
in October 1972 the full establishment of four therapists was realised.
However, it is probable that even this is irtsufficient to cater for the true need for speech
therapy services, which has until now never been ascertained in the Borough of Bexley. To
this end, a speech therapy survey is under way, and from the results already obtained, it seems
that the present establishment is insufficient to provide a really efficient service, with screening,
advisory and prophylactic measures in addition to basic treatment.
Even from the figures readily available, it is evident that, if the College of SpeechTherapists'
recommendation of a minimum of one therapist per 10,000 children is accepted, then with
the population of approximately 50,000 children under 14 years of age (Registrar General's
estimated population figures for the Borough of Bexley for mid 1971), an establishment of
at least five full-time therapists is needed."
PROPHYLAXIS PROGRAMMES IN SCHOOLS
The overall programme can be considered under two headings.
Firstly, it is both administratively convenient and medically advisable to reinforce the
immunological state of the child while still in school following the prophylaxis procedure at
pre school age.
To this end children of Secondary school age are offered Tetanus and Polio booster
injections. Clearly children who missed such prophylaxis in the pre-school age are given a full
course of Tetanus or Polio, or both.
Secondly, there are two prophylactic agents particularly relevant to adolescents. These are
B.C.G. which protects against tubercolosis and Rubella vaccines. The latter is only offered to
girls. Immunisation in schools is carried out as part of the comprehensive school Health Service
and the statistics are as follows:—
Number of children immunised
1. Tetanus 602
2. Polio 435
3. Rubella 2002
83