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11
The Child Guidance Clinic has been, for the first time, fully up to
establishment in its ancillary staff, although psychiatric sessions have not
been fully implemented because of lack of space. The waiting list is still
growing apace, and this venture appears to be a permanent and expanding
part of our services. The consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Burbury, is leaving
to take up the position of Senior Lecturer in Child Psychiatry at the University
of Leeds. She has brought to the Clinic much experience and academic
distinction.
Two recent innovations are worthy of note. The Enuresis Clinic has
been successfully launched under the enthusiastic supervision of Dr. Pooley,
and referrals of bed-wetters by doctors, and even specialists, are already
necessitating extra sessions. To help maintain the interest of the Assistant
County Medical Officers they all attend, about once a month, a ward round
in the children's wards at Oldchurch Hospital for which facility we are grateful
to Dr. Savage, our Consultant Paediatrician.
Another matter of note is the increase in attendances at the Minor
Ailments Clinics, mainly due to attendances of children suffering from dental
trouble (which might have been prevented had we an adequate priority
dental service). Diseases for which these clinics were originally started, such
as impetigo and scabies, still continue to show a steady and welcome decline.
Finally, I must express oar regret at the death of Mr. Ibbotson, who
has been our Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon since August, 1944.
A highly skilled operator, he did his best to improve the unfortunate situation
with respect to our long waiting list for tonsils and adenoids operations. In
addition, he was a most cultured man and enthusiastic musician and poet.
Part III Services.
Although probably the most extensive of the three services administered
from the Public Health Department, there is often less to comment upon
from this Service than with the others. Perhaps this is because the service
is steadily expanding and not undergoing much other change, apart from the
services mentioned.
A new venture that has been agreed is the completion of arrangements
for the appointment of an occupational therapist for the tuberculous,
particularly for those confined to their homes and either awaiting admission
to a sanatorium or discharged from one and not yet ambulant.
The Manford Way Health Services Clinic was formally opened by
Mr. J. W. Bowen, Chairman of the London County Council, on 3rd November,
1951, and the services therein have been progressively extended, with the
provision of orthopaedic and ophthalmic specialist services and some dental
sessions for the Forest Health Area.
The new Nursery in Goodmayes Lane was opened for the reception of
children on 14th November, 1951. replacing the premises in Green Lane,
Seven Kings, which were vacated on the 9th of that month. The Nursery
was formally opened by the Worshipful the Mayor of Ilford on 24th November,
1951.
Free milk for tuberculosis patients is now supplied through this department,
instead of the Ilford Tuberculosis Care Association. The numbers of
cases assisted have increased from 2 in 1951 to 49 at 28th July, 1952.
Dr. E. R. Bransby, of the Ministry of Health, conducted a pilot survey
of the diet of children under 5 and expectant and nursing mothers. He
states:—
"In all, we got information in Ilford relating to 12 expectant
mothers and 42 young children, giving a total of 54 subjects. The
mothers co-operated exceedingly well in the study and we were very
gratified at the reception given to our investigators by the mothers.