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46
The Physically Handicapped group comprise a miscellaneous
group mostly suffering with orthopaedic defects such as poliomyelitis,
birth injuries or severe rheumatic disease of such a degree
as to be unsuitable for an ordinary school. In several cases, with
the teacher's co-operation, it has been possible to keep these
children at a normal school with their ordinary playmates.
A very small but tragic group are the children with multiple
defects, e.g., children with severe physical disabilities or epilepsy
plus some degree of mental retardation. A further difficulty in
these cases is the very limited number of schools willing to accept
such children and the great difficulty of placement.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
Staff.
The year 1951 has seen a slight improvement in the staffing
position in this area.
At 31st December, 1951, the position was as follows :
1 Area dental officer.
3 Full-time dental officers.
2 Part-time dental officers.
These figures represent in terms of full-time operating strength
4 1/11ths dental officers. In addition, there were 2 part-time
orthodontists, whose combined sessional attendances represented
9/11ths of a full-time orthodontist.
The figures for the corresponding period in 1950 stood at:
1 Area dental officer, 3 full-time dental officers and 1 part-time
dental officer, the total being equivalent to 3 10/1lths dental officers
and 1 part-time orthodontist equal to 5/1lths full-time.
Restricted Scheme.
The system of restricted dental treatment which was introduced
in Ealing in 1950, as a direct result of the shortage of staff, has
been continued with certain modifications. These modifications were
the alteration of the age group eligible for routine treatment from
the 5 to 7 year old group to children of the 8 to 10 year old group,
in order that the conservative work should be on permanent teeth.
All other school children outside this age group are eligible for
emergency treatment only.
The emergency treatment given was limited as follows:
1. Cases reporting with toothache.
2. Cases referred by a medical officer who are waiting to
be admitted to hospital for tonsils and adenoids operations.