Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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Special Classes attached to Ordinary Schools
In addition to the units for partially-hearing children, there are seven remedial classes in schools throughout
the Borough for children with a normal range of ability, but with learning difficulties. Placement in these
classes is temporary. At the end of 1970, the number of children attending such 'Opportunity' classes was
61.
Remedial help by peripatetic teachers is available for children who have a specific reading difficulty.
Home Tuition
During the year 6 children received home tuition for varying periods under Section 56 of the Education
Act 1944, when they were not well enough to attend school for a considerable period.
Day Nurseries — Admission of Handicapped Children
During 1970 the Council's day nursery scheme continued as in previous years. Children in the following
categories were admitted on a medical recommendation, without charge to the parents:—
(i) Deaf, partially-hearing, partially-sighted, physically handicapped, maladjusted.
(ii) Mentally handicapped children under five years of age.
(iii) Children over one year old of deaf or deaf/mute mothers.
The cost of attendance was borne either by the Education Committee under Section 56 of the Education Act
1944, or by the local health authority under Section 22 of the National Health Service Act 1946. Admission
may be for the whole or part of the day. During 1970 12 Haringey children and 1 child from another borough
were in attendance at day nurseries under these arrangements. At the end of the year, 3 Haringey children
were still in attendance, but the child from the other borough left before the end of the year.
In addition, 4 handicapped children were placed in private play groups, without cost to the parents. None of
these children was still in attendance at the end of the year.
Recuperative Holidays
During 1970 10 boys and 13 girls were recommended for recuperative holidays in order to assist their recovery
after illness. 5 boys and 6 girls were placed in suitable homes for periods of varying length.
THE SCHOOL CLINIC
Medical Officer Sessions
Sessions staffed by school medical officers are held to deal with minor medical problems which occur from
day to day, the follow-up of defects found at periodic and other medical examinations, and particular problems
brought by parents.
The medical examination which is offered to all school children who are new entrants to the country, including
any child who has been out of the country for a year or more and has returned, is proving of great value. It
provides an opportunity to have these children's immunisation and vaccination programmes brought into line
with other children in the Borough, and also enables parents to meet the school doctor and discuss their child's
welfare with him. 357 children who were new entrants to the country were examined during the year under
these arrangements.
School clinic sessions also afford opportunity for special work to be carried out by school medical officers,
including the weight-watching and warts clinics.
Weight-Watching Clinic
During 1969, the weight-watching clinic session at Somerset Road Clinic had to be discontinued because the
medical officer who had been conducting it left the department. In May 1970, the appointment of a new
medical officer enabled sessions to be resumed, and later in the year the clinic was transferred to Burgoyne
Road Clinic.
The weight-watching clinic at Fortis Green Clinic continued to be held throughout the year.
Plantar Warts
Two clinic sessions continued to be held each week, at Weston Park and Lordship Lane Clinics, to deal with
plantar warts.
Dr. K. Shah reports as follows on the year's work at these clinics: —
"The work at the wart clinics has progressed well during the year 1970. Cases are referred to these clinics
by the medical officers, school nurses and the general practitioners of the Borough.
The treatment of warts and verrucae by electrocautery gives quite satisfactory results, and most of the
parents whose children are treated by this method are very pleased with it, because their children do not have
to miss school very much and attend the clinic too often. The children are also happy, particularly the
swimmers, because they are able to take part in all the school activities in about a week or ten days.
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