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pursue conversation until maximum understanding is reached. In written
communication this is not so easy because instant development of an idea
is lost and also one does not have the advantages of interpretation through
self-expression. Therefore it was decided that on the assessment sheets
the written thoughts, observations and ideas must be complete, clear and
factual. The new system of assessment has now been established, and comprises
three main groups; chest cases, neurological cases and the spina
bifida cases, and it is hoped that each child will be assessed at regular
intervals. This should in no way be considered a dull mechanical task,but
should be used as a tool to verify and augment the physiotherapy treatment.
The multi-disciplinary case conferences have proved invaluable in
demonstrating that in this specialised age, communication is as essential
as the educational and medical programmes made for each child. The
physiotherapists have enjoyed and appreciated the increasing co-operation
of the educational and nursing staff. It has made our task of rehabilitation
so much easier, and the progress achieved is outstandingly obvious. Those
who have been wheel chair bound for several terms are now walking independently
to lunch. These achievements do not pass unnoticed; one must
pay tribute to the excellent quality of the physiotherapy and hydrotherapy
now given at St. Giles' School.
As a result of the spina bifida survey performed on thirteen cases at
home, nothing specific materialised, but the time was not felt to have been
wasted because it was found easier to plan the treatment programme having
knowledge of the child's home background. Both parents and therapists
felt that they had gained through an interchange of knowledge. Part of our
therapists' work is the education of parents, and this has been made easier
and more effective by the installation of a telephone in the Department.
Parents have now become acclimatized to participating in the treatment
programme and are becoming used to the more intensive care that is now
given. This communication system has proved useful, too, in informing
parents about other facilities for handicapped children such as riding and
swimming and camp holidays. Statistics are shown on page 64.
SPEECH THERAPY SERVICE
Mr. J.R. Brook, Principal Speech Therapist
During 1969 a total of 8,946 treatments were given by the Speech
Therapy Service, although the total number of patients receiving treatment
showed a slight reduction compared with the previous year. Efforts have'
been made to ensure that the relatively large number of children due for a
review examination were seen, and newly recruited staff were employed
upon this work before the Service accepted new children for treatment. The
number of review examinations has been increased with a proportionate reduction
in the number of new cases accepted in 1969. The large number of