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than one or two school visits a month. Similarly home visits are
of necessity restricted in number.
The relationship between retarded speech and language
development and difficulties with reading and spelling has long
been appreciated by speech therapists, and discussions have already
taken place with the teachers of the Special Tutorial Classes to
ensure that the two departments work closely together.
Child Guidance
Through various sources, principally the schools, cases of
psychological disturbances come to light and are referred, if
necessary, to the appropriate Child Guidance Clinic.
These Clinics which are spaced throughout the District, are
staffed by the Regional Hospital Board and are held in Hospital
premises except that at "The Willows", Red Hill, Chislehurst,
which is held in the Council's own premises. The remaining Child
Guidance Clinic sessions are held at Farnborough Hospital, Stepping
Stones House, Bromley Hospital, and at Sydenham Hospital,
which serves the Borough of Bromley although it is without its
geographical limits.
A number of psychiatrists have been concerned at the different
Clinics, but in December the Regional Hospital Board appointed
one Consultant, Dr. R. Rodriguez, who will work at all the Clinics
as from March, 1967.
The Clinic suffered a great loss with the untimely death of
Dr. Judith Waterlow in February. Dr. R. Rodriguez was appointed
Locum-tenens for two sessions per week in March and was
appointed Consultant Psychiatrist in December.
I am grateful to Dr. R. Rodriguez, Consultant Psychiatrist,
for the following report in respect of the Chislehurst Child
Guidance Clinic:—
The turnover of patients during the year has been slightly
higher than in 1965.
Mrs. Preston and Mrs. O'Kelly, the Educational Psychologists,
have continued their work as in previous years. Apart from
psychological assessment in the Clinic, visits were paid to schools
in respect of children attending the Clinic. In the absence of a
trained child play therapist it was fortunate that Mrs. O'Kelly
could undertake the therapy of some cases whilst their parents
were being seen by me.
The Social Worker, Miss Courtney, who had been working at
the Clinic since 1964, retired in September, 1966, and was replaced
by Mrs. Cameron, who apart from her duties as Mental Welfare
Officer was able to give four weekly sessions to this Clinic.