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never be recovered fully. Again this was an educational and not
a medical problem, but it is distressing to succeed in early
diagnosis only to meet failure in the provision of remedial
training. Against these setbacks can be recorded the recruitment
of the full establishment of Speech Therapists, and the completion
of premises for a day class for children with severe
speech disorders. This will operate early in 1966. Plans were
also well advanced for a pilot scheme to deal with a group of
autistic children at the Child Guidance Clinic.
New Clinics
Two new clinics in purpose-built accommodation were completed,
one at New Addington and the other at Sanderstead, and
provided excellent facilities for all School Health duties in
these areas. Special rooms in the Community Centre on the
Shrublands housing estate also bacame available at the end of
the year, and should allow decentralisation of some services for
the convenience of parents and children in the area.
Dental Health
During the year Mr. R.G. Oliver, Principal School Dental
Officer since 1938, retired after an extended period of office
following his 65th birthday. I take this opportunity to record
appreciation of his long and distinguished service to the former
County Borough, and for his help in ensuring a smooth transition
to the new Authority on April 1st. The report is presented by
his successor, Mr. Everett, who reinforces the comments in
Mr. Oliver's last report, that improvement in children's teeth
observed in recent years follows acceptance of treatment and not
any reduction in dental decay. Both the Principal Dental Officers
thus re-emphasize the need for prevention, which rests on education
in dental hygiene and an adequate fluorine content of
drinking water.
Health Education
A joint working party from the Education and Health Departments
produced a comprehensive Teachers' Guide, explaining how
this subject can be included in the curriculum at different age
levels. Steps to introduce and circulate this document were
being taken. It was the logical development of our original
concept that a Health Education section gives or revises basic
knowledge, supplies teaching aids, and delivers occasional
specialist talks. Otherwise hygiene-the science of healthy
living-is part of ordinary education.