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22
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. Od. 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:—
1962 1961
Adults 98 106
Children 6 18
104 124
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE (Tables 63-74)
Medical Inspection
Routine medioal inspection in schools continued and it is pleasing to note that still fewer children
were found to be in an unsatisfactory physical condition.
Treatment for defects found at these inspections is available up to consultant level at the four
school clinics.
Handicapped Pupils
Pupils continue to be admitted to the Lower Place Day Special School for the Physically Handicapped
on application. Some pupils are admitted on a temporary basis following long periods of hospitalization
prior to readmission to ordinary schools.
The large immigrant population, many of whom have low educational attainments, has caused the
demand for places at the Woodfield Day Special School for the Educationally Subnormal to increase. If
no further accommodation is made available, long waiting lists are bound to arise.
CHILD GUIDANCE (Tables 75 and 76)
This is the first year the clinic has had the uninterrupted service of a Consultant Psychiatrist, which
has meant the avoidance of long waiting lists for diagnostic procedure. Like many other child guidance
centres there is a shortage of Psychiatric Social Workers.
One hundred and thirty-four children were referred to the clinic for investigation, of which 41%
were from medical sources, and it should be noted that 15% came from parents themselves. The distribution
of problems is similar to that of last year. It is perhaps significant that about 30% of cases referred have
problems primarily due to environmental factors. The waiting list of cases at the end of the year is not unduly
long and compares favourably with the long waiting lists for which most child guidance clinics are notorious.
Some concern is occasioned by the long wait for suitable residential placement. Although less than
10% are recommended the need is urgent in many of these cases. Placement is undertaken by the County
Education Officer.
The work of the School Psychological Service was enhanced by the appointment in September of
an additional Educational Psychologist. 503 cases were seen, the largest number ever.
Monthly conferences with school medical officers have continued when cases known to both teams
are discussed.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE AND PRIORITY DENTAL SERVICE
(Tables 77 and 78)
There has been little change in the Dental Service during the year. It is, however, noteworthy that
the ratio of fillings and extractions continues to improve, particularly with reference to permanent teeth.
The staffing problem has been largely resolved, albeit with part time dental officers, and it is now possible
to offer complete dental treatment to all school children and priority patients willing to accept it.
CHIROPODY
There has been a considerable back-log of patients, owing to an interval of 5 months when there
was no full-time chiropodist. This has since been largely overcome.
A great deal of work has been done for the 'Senior Citizens' and each clinic has been entirely booked
and well attended Ln spite of bad weather.
At the other end of the scale, a number of schools in the district have been visited and lectures with
film strips given. Mothers in particular have been advised as to the most suitable type of footwear for their
children if they are to avoid in future the foot malformations and discomfort from which the present generation
suffers in large numbers. The present tendency towards sharp pointed shoes is to be particularly deplored. It
is felt that there is great scope for preventive treatment of children in the case of chiropody.