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*Measles increase (1966—440 cases)
Speech Therapy
This year we were unfortunate in losing a full-time therapist
through her marriage and subsequent removal from the area, and
as yet have only been able to replace her with a part-time therapist.
This persistent and unfortunate shortage of staff creates in
itself more problems. The present staff have worked hard to keep
the Service moving but it is an uphill struggle. The waiting list
grows and the therapists are acutely aware of the many children
whom they have interviewed who are in desperate need of help,
but through necessity can only be marked as urgent cases and
placed on the waiting list. This unnecessary wait may result in a
worsening of their condition and in a deterioration in their school
work.
The therapists are continually having to compromise, parents,
teachers and medical officers complain of the long waiting list
and at the same time expect the children to have more frequent
appointments. With such pressures it is extremely difficult for the
therapists to maintain the necessary school and home visits—clinic
time being so limited that outside visits are reduced to a minimum.
That the liaison is so good is due to the high sense of responsibility
of all the therapists concerned.
The figures for 1967 are as follow:—
Number of referrals to the service 300
Number of children seen—
(a) in clinics 336
(b) in Special Schools inc. Cheyne Hospital 87
(c) in Training Centre 25