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B.C.G. VACCINATION
Details of school children offered B.C.G. vaccination through the approved
arrangements under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, during the
year ended 31st December, 1962, are as follows:—
1. Number of children whose parents consented to participate 1,938
2. Number of those who were tested and found to be
(a) Negative 1,816
(b) Positive
117
3. Number of those who were given B.C.G. vaccination 1,816
SPEECH THERAPY
The number of children treated during the year are as follows:—
Number on roll at 1st January, 1962 225
New cases during the year 89
Number discharged 111
Number on roll at 31st December, 1962 203
Number of attendances at Speech Therapy Clinics 3,704
The types of speech defect encountered were as follows:—
1. Dyslalia—omission or substitution of consonants 114
2. Developmental aphasia—delayed or absent speech 46
3. Stammering 29
4. Dysarthria—physical defects of the speech organs 8
5. Aphasia associated with mental subnormality 6
6. Disorder arising from deafness —
Speech therapy sessions are held regularly at most of the clinics in the borough.
Children may receive treatment where indicated from the age of about three and
a half years.
The end of the year brings a change of venue to the Speech Class which is to
move to more spacious premises at Brentside Infants' School. While believing that
this move will be of benefit, we are sorry to have to break a happy association with
Stanhope Infants' School and its Head Teacher, Miss R. F. Gosden, who has been
keenly interested in the class since its inception in 1954.
We are also sorry to lose the services of Miss E. I. Mears, the class teacher, who
is taking up employment elsewhere. The success of the class has been largely due to
her hard work and her interest in and sympathy with these young handicapped
children.
Seven children were admitted and 10 discharged from the Speech Class during 1962.
ASTHMA CLINIC
The Asthma Clinic continued its useful function during the year, and there were
1,184 attendances. The object of this clinic is to support asthmatic children through
their school lives, particularly by such measures as breathing exercises and
encouragement.
The recent article by Dr. Ogilvy published in the journal Thorax deals with the
follow-up of asthmatic children who had attended a clinic 25 years previously.
From his findings he has demonstrated that the outlook for asthmatics who start
symptoms in childhood is by no means gloomy. This has enabled us to reassure
parents of these children as to the future.
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