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Physiotherapy Clinic
As it proved impossible to recruit replacements because of the present
acute national shortage of physiotherapists, the retirement of Miss Broome and
Miss Boss in September 1960 seemed likely to deal a mortal blow to this
essential service. Fortunately for the priority groups of East Ham these
loyal members of the staff volunteered to continue working on a part-time
basis of four sessions each per week until the vacancies were filled.
It is deplorable that the pay and conditions of service in this skilled
and devoted profession have been allowed to decline to such a level that an
adequate supply of recruits is not forthcoming.
Attendances - Town Hall Annexe 1,033
Manor Park 770
Treatment given - Patients Treatments
Sunlight - local and general 19 140
Remedial exercises 286 1,306
Electrical and massage 72 417
Child Guidance Centre
Mr. F.A. Spooncer, Educational Psychologist in charge of the Centre,
submits the following observations
"The staffing of the Centre improved during the year from its parlous
position at the end of 1959. Miss Eva Gordon, B.A., who became Mrs. Hopwood
later in the year, joined the Centre staff on the 18th January 1960 as a Social
Worker and Miss L.M. Spencer, B.A., was appointed as Assistant Educational
Psychologist from 29th August. Miss Schroeder was granted a further increase
in her therapy sessions to ten sessions weekly commencing on the 1st November
1960. The results of these appointments can be seen in the increased number
of referrals to the Clinic and particularly in the considerable number of
children who can be helped by regular therapy.
The year was further marked by the transfer of the Centre to its new
home in Katherine Road where the venture of combining several Clinics in
association with a housing project forms an interesting development in this
field. The premises most certainly make a much happier impression on children
and parents who seek help and it is perhaps significant in this connection that
the number of direct parent referrals is increasing. There have been no major
difficulties in settling into the new premises and the Clinic has been able to
run smoothly since its formal opening on May 21, by the Mayor, Councillor Mrs.
Sutton.
The statistics for this year show an increase in the number of referrals,
partly related to the better staffing position but also undoubtedly resulting
from a more wide-spread knowledge of the Centre. Whilst the pattern of ages
of referral remains quite similar with the bulk of referrals coming from the
Junior School group, the sources of referral do show some changes