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shortly I hope the number of hydrotherapy treatments will be increased.
This is an ideal medium for mobilising the grossly disabled of which
there are an increasing number. It is hoped to establish a system of
regular case conferences with Dr. Wield and the appropriate physiotherapist,
speech therapist, teacher and nursing sister. This will enable
mutual problems to be ironed out and a more comprehensive and amalgamated
treatment programme planned. We all realise the need to unite our
varying disciplines.
On a trial basis it has been decided that every Spina Bifida child
attending St. Giles' (of which there are now thirteen of varying ages)
should be visited at hone by a physiotherapist. This will enable the child
and the family to be educated about the condition in its own surroundings.
By doing this it is hoped to eliminate such problems as the severe burns
that we find from time to time on anaesthetic limbs. This is a strangely
new condition to the layman; it is not neglect that produces these disasters
but misunderstanding. A domiciliary survey may help to prevent
further misfortunes in the future.
SPEECH THERAPY SERVICE
Mr. J.R. Brook, Principal Speech Therapist
The past year has been a year of change in the Speech Therapy Service.
Since the arrival of the new Senior Therapist in September 1967, there has
been a complete turnover of the staff in the Service. Most of this has taken
place during 1968. This has inevitably caused some disruption of the service,
but on the whole has been very welcome in that a completely new team is developing.
Advantage has been taken of the change to encourage a slightly
different approach both to the Service as a whole and to the individual child.
Emphasis has been laid on avoiding bringing the young child into the clinic
before speech has had a chance to right itself; similarly, therapists are encouraged
to put children on to a review basis when regular weekly attendance
at the clinic appears no longer necessary. In both cases the underlying reason
being that children may have adverse and negative attitudes to communication
confirmed and reinforced by regular attendance at the Speech Clinic. Where
gradual development towards normal speech is likely to occur, reduction of
parental anxiety and careful reviewing at regular intervals can show quicker
results than weekly therapy.
In appointing new staff, experienced therapists are rarely seen. The
policy has been to accept lively speech therapists who will, it is hoped, eventually
take a progressive interest in their work as a worthwhile profession and,
so far as one can see, this policy may well be paying dividends.
The year has been busy at the West Thornton Unit in that there has been
a greater turnover of children attending the Unit. The number of children
attending full or part-time at normal classes in the main part ofthe school has