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27
11 Students from two of the London training schools have attended for
practical work during the year.
1970 has been a much more settled year than the previous one. A
nucleus of experienced staff has formed and it is hoped that this can be
maintained into the future as a buffer against the inevitable staff changes.
The beginnings of closer contact with the schools occurred during the year
and it is hoped that we will find it possible to increase this contact for
most of the work of the Section is with schoolchildren.
Statistics are set out on Page 54.
WEIGHT CONTROL CLINICS
Dr. W. Simmonds, Departmental Medical Officer
During the past year the Weight Control Clinics in the various main
areas and in some schools have been continued on the same principles as
before.
The effect of excluding those who did not wish to participate is showing
results, and the majority of those who now attend are improving, and an
appreciable number are now considered to be within the normal limits.
It is still interesting that the most successful group is once more that
at Waylands, and the individual with the best weight loss is a pupil of
St. Christopher's Special School.
The girls' group has been less successful; partly because all the groups
had to be combined into one in Dr. Mortimer's absence, which meant less
time for each individual girl, and partly because it was only possible to meet
once a term, and the effect of the group therapy tends to wear off in the four
month intervals. Arrangements have been made to place this group on a more
regular footing in the coming year.
OTHER SERVICES
Transport of Children to Ordinary Schools
In the event of an accident or illness resulting in temporary disability,
the school medical officer is asked to decide whether special transport
should be provided to enable the child to attend school. Before making any
recommendation careful enquiries must be made to ensure not only that the
transport is justified but that the child will be able to work satisfactorily
when he eventually reaches the school. A child in a leg plaster may have
great difficulty in negotiating several flights of stairs in order to attend
various classes during the course of the day. School medical officers
recommended that special transport should be provided for 28 such children
during the year.