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Public Health Department,
Civic Centre,
Dagenham.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Dagenham.
Last year, my report dealt in considerable detail with the care of handicapped
children, and gave a short report on the first year's working of the new assessment centre
for the over sixties. I mentioned, too, the changing pattern both in the work and in the
informal colour schemes in the clinics. This year, I am happy to report that the changes
made then and in the year before have not been idle sweepings of a new broom but that
all our new ventures have continued to flourish and extend.
The over sixties clinic has been held almost every week and towards the end of the
year it was necessary for a second medical officer to attend so that more patients could
be seen. Mrs. Broad was appointed during the year as the nurse with special duties
associated with the clinic. The exercise classes have continued throughout the year, and
Miss Brown, occupational therapist at St. George's Hospital, has brought her knowledge
and experience to the discussion groups. The recorded discussion in the body of the
report will show the constructive approach the over sixties make to their problems.
Special attention has been paid to the handicapped by the continuing survey at 6
monthly intervals of all children with any defects in the ordinary schools who are seen
by appointment for review at the school minor ailment clinics, and of the under fives who
were seen either by appointment at the clinics or by visits from the medical officers to
their homes. Some of the most severely handicapped will be able to attend the Day
Centre at Kingsley Hall which has at last been finally agreed in all details by the Ministry
and by the County Health Committee, but it will now be early 1960 before we can close
the present day nursery and start on the replanning and re-equipping of the premises
for the start of the centre in May, 1960.
For some time the handicapped school leavers from the Bentry School who have
not been able to find employment or are so severely handicapped that they are incapable
of outside work, have been followed up at yearly intervals after leaving school by the
school medical officer who has contacted the different services—welfare, hospital and
voluntary—when further help has been needed. This year, the British Council for
Rehabilitation asked for information about the care and after care of handicapped school
leavers so a detailed survey of all children in the area who had left special schools in the
past 2 years was carried out by the school nurses. Dr. Mair conducted further investigations
where necessary and referred to Welfare, Youth Employment, voluntary agencies
or hospital those cases in need of further help. A summary of this survey and a detailed
report on the after care of the school leaver will be found in this report.
The power drill and the paint brush took over Becontree Clinic for three months in
the summer for a complete structural repair and redecoration. Leys Clinic is also being
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