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or for consultation about a child's health problems. Treatment
facilities for minor conditions are also provided.
3,175 examinations by School Medical Officers were carried
out at these sessions, including 1,552 follow-up examinations
resulting from previous special or routine medical inspections.
9,446 attendances were also made by children who did not see
the Medical Officer. Conditions treated included the following:-
Skin diseases 1,596
Eye diseases 46
Diseases and defects of Ear,
Nose and Throat 55
Miscellaneous minor conditions 456
Speech Therapy:
A Speech Therapy Service for children is provided at each
of the Health and Welfare Clinics, Special Schools and Junior
Training Centre. The year started with an almost full complement
of Speech Therapists but some reduction in the service was
inevitable following the resignation during the year of two Speech
Therapists for whom no replacements could be obtained.
332 children were newly referred for Speech Therapy and
8,273 treatments carried out. At the end of the year 199 children
were currently receiving treatment and 83 others awaiting commencement
of Therapy.
Handicapped Pupils:
Under Section 34 of the Education Act, 1944 it is the duty
of the Council, as local Education Authority, to ascertain what
children over two years of age are in need of special educational
treatment by reason of any disability of mind or body. This
function is integrated with other services for the handicapped
provided by the Health and Welfare Department and all children
who are known to suffer from a congenital malformation or show
any signs of developing a handicapping condition are kept under
observation, not only to assess their educational requirements,
but also to consider any community care services which may be
appropriate.
Some handicapped children, who are not so disabled as to
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