View report page

One event of importance which took place during the year was the talk given by
Dr. Mair to the Institute of Home Help Organisers. This dealt with the handicapped
in both an administrative and a personal fashion and gives such a comprehensive picture
of services for the disabled, both young and old, that I have taken the opportunity of
publishing it in full in the body of the report. I can recommend a close study of this
to all those interested in the welfare of the handicapped.
During the year also, Dr. Mair in her concern for the future of handicapped school
leavers established close liaison with the County Welfare Department. So as to enable
the staff to have a better picture of the capabilities of the children leaving the Bentry
Special School she invited the appropriate member of the County Welfare staff to sit in
on conferences about school leavers. This liaison was greatly facilitated by Mr. Hurton,
the head teacher at the Bentry School, who takes an intense personal interest in his
pupils and their future.
The extension of the Child Guidance service which took place during 1957 and
resulted in the opening of a centre in Romford improved to some extent the facilities
available to the Dagenham children and their parents, but I was disappointed that it did
not bring a more convenient service to Dagenham, nor did it to any great extent improve
the liaison between health visitor, school nurse and medical officer on the one hand and
the clinic child guidance team on the other.
I feel that the main reason for this is the geographical situation of the Child Guidance
Clinic and that the final solution to the problem will only be reached if and when a
centre is opened in Dagenham. If this was done a much closer integration of staffs
could be secured which would be of value to both staffs, with consequent benefit to
the children. The period of waiting before children can be seen by the psychiatrist
(3—4 months) is longer than is desirable.
Immunisation against diphtheria shows a marked improvement as indicated by the
immunity index, a term we now use to indicate the percentage protected by immunisation
during the previous five years.
In November, the age group of those eligible for vaccination against poliomyelitis
was extended to those under 26 years. The open sessions which were held at Oxlow
Lane Clinic met with a poor response though at the time of writing the much publicised
death of a famous footballer, due to poliomyelitis, has resulted in a sudden and overwhelming
demand for immunisation.
I have to report progress in the Over Sixties Clinic at Oxlow Lane and to add that
at the end of the year, over fifteen months since the centre began to function, a definite
pattern seemed to be emerging. It would appear from the limited experience available
that mental health becomes more important as we get older. We must try to plan a
11