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The maximum daily charge was increased from 13s. Od. to 15s. 6d. from July 3rd. Applicants unable
to pay the assessed charges can appeal at a meeting of the Appeals Sub-Committee.
The nurseries have remained under-staffed because it has been difficult to recruit qualified nursery
nurses.
Five nurseries are approved as training schools for the N.N.E.B. Course. Nine students completed
their 2 years period of training, 7 passed the examination and obtained the N.N.E.B. certificate.
Three deputy matrons and 5 staff nursery nurses attended refresher courses held in January and April
at Chiswick Polytechnic.
CONVALESCENCE
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, patients recovering from a serious illness or
operation and requiring only rest, fresh air and good food to complete treatment, may be recommended for
a short stay in a convalescent home.
General practitioners, hospitals and clinics, make the recommendations, which are sent to the county
medical officer who arranges suitable homes.
Patients who ask for a reduction in the standard charge of £5.5s.0d. must complete an economic circumstances
form and they are assessed by the finance officer. They may also ask for payment of travelling
expenses.
Number of recommendations:—
1961 1960
Adults 106 96
Children 18 21
124 117
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE (Tables 66—77)
Medical Inspection
Routine medical inspections in schools continued and fewer children were found to be in an unsatisfactory
physical condition.
Hatrdicapped Pupils
The Day Special School for Physically Handicapped Pupils at Lower Place still has no waiting list
and pupils can be admitted immediately.
The accommodation at Woodfield School, Wembley, was increased in September, 1961 from 170 to
190, with the result that no child ascertained as educationally subnormal now has to wait more than a term
for a place.
School Clinics
The opening of Neasden Clinic in June made treatment facilities more easily accessible for children
attending John Kelly, Braintcroft, Wykeham and Gladstone Park Schools.
CHILD GUIDANCE (Tables 78 - 79)
Once again work was hindered by staff changes. The clinic was covered by a locum psychiatrist
doing five sessions per week from January to February and during March no one was in attendance. Dr.
Graf, the first permanent psychiatrist for over a year, commenced duty in April and has brought about a
welcome reduction of the waiting list.
115 children were referred to the clinic for investigation (16 more than 1960) and 72 attended regularly
for psychotherapy. At the end of the year there were 16 cases awaiting full investigation, less than half
of those remaining last year.
The Educational Psychologist examined 451 children. Much of the work is concerned with backward
children. The large immigrant population presents the schools with a considerable educational problem,
as many of these children have low educational attainments compared with their age. There continues to be
a large demand for the language class; 45 children attended during the year.
The monthly visits of school medical officers continue when cases known to both teams are discussed.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE AND PRIORITY DENTAL SERVICE
(Tables 80 and 81)
During the year the pattern of dental inspection and treatment has been similar to that of the past
few years but the total amount of work completed has decreased due to staff shortages.
However, the staffing situation improved towards the end of the year; if it remains the same, there
will be a greater volume of work and more frequent routine inspections during the coming year.
More time than in previous years has been given to dental health education both in schools and to
smaller groups of children and nursing and expectant mothers.