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Officer, the Head Master, a Teacher, a Nurse, a Physiotherapist, a Speech
Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, a Teacher of the Deaf, a Health
Visitor, a Nursery Teacher, a Nursery Nurse, sometimes a Social Worker
from Queen Mary's Hospital - all of whom may be called upon to plan an
integrated programme for the child. None has more priority than the other
in discussion, their united aim is to do their joint best for each patient.
What is offered by multi-disciplinary medical care such as this is undoubtedly
a wide service - a service to the grossly disabled young rooted
in compassion.
Physiotherapy statistics will be found in Appendix B, Page 54.
SPEECH THERAPY SERVICE
Mr. J.R. Brook, Principal Speech Therapist
The work of the Speech Therapy Section has been hampered during 1972 by
staff shortages. The Section was approximately 65% fully staffed over the
year. At the end of the year there were four full-time Therapists in post
out of an establishment of nine. This means that after some years of plenty
Croydon's Speech Therapy staff is reduced to a level comparable to most
other Authorities. In October 1972 the report of a Committee of Enquiry into
Speech Therapy (Quirk Report H.M.S.O.) was published and proposed a fourfold
increase in the number of Therapists to meet the demand in the country.
Other recommendations in the report included the profession being independently
organised under the coming Area Health Authorities and a degree
course to replace the present diploma course. These and many other points
are being considered by interested parties. The report drew attention to the
severe shortage of Speech Therapists, and figures quoted show that new
entrants into the profession hardly replace wastage. The Borough has
mounted an increased advertising effort to try to attract staff, especially
married Therapists, by offering attractive part-time or sessional conditions
for the first time.
Duri ng the year Miss Pat Blaine, an American Therapist and Mrs. S.
Wasmer, an Australian, joined the staff. Miss Blaine left after only four
months to be married and Mrs. Robertson and Miss P. Grasso also left.
Mrs. Robertson had been with us some time and was the Senior Therapist
responsible for special schools. Miss Grasso had been in charge of
Speech Therapy at the West Thornton Speech Unit, and she has been replaced
there by Mrs. Siddons who was already a member of staff.
The gradual decline in the numbers of Therapists available has
inevitably led to a reduction of the service to the special schools and
in ordinary clinics at a time when the demand for speech therapy, as
shown by requests especially from schools, continues to increase. It
seems likely that the services of the Speech Therapist will be required
even more as the Borough's school population increases, as does environmental
pressure and the survival of handicapped children.