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13
provided at the former Becontree Day Nursery in 1955, and its inception
may be attributed largely to the industry and enthusiasm of Dr. Gordon
and Dr. Gross, and the Unit was one of the few then under the control
of a Local Education Authority. Another step forward — plans have been
approved for the building of a new school for the physically handicapped.
This will be one of the most advanced in the country, incorporating the
Cerebral Palsy Unit, with a small pool for hydrotherapy, and a nursery
class for earlier diagnosis.
B.C.G. Vaccination against tuberculosis commenced in 1950, at the
outset for children of 13 years of age attending secondary modern schools,
in 1960 extended to include all pupils over 13 and students at Universities
and Teaching Colleges, and in 1961 further extended to children of 10
years of age and upwards, in the latter cases at the discretion of the
Divisional School Medical Officer.
Over the years attention is drawn to the decline in the incidence
of ringworm and uncleanliness of head and body in school children. In
the pre-war days many school children were found with defective footwear;
this is now, fortunately, almost unknown, but the trend in modern styles
of children's footwear has caused comment and a Foot Survey in 1960 of
IIford school children in the age groups 9-11, carried out by an Assistant
Medical Officer, suggests that the ability readily to buy shoes has brought
a new hazard in footwear.
Strides have been made in the past few years in the ascertainment
and placing of handicapped children, particularly in the immediate past
years with partially deaf and educationally subnormal children, but the
shortage of vacancies in special schools persists, but not to the same
extent as pre-war. Facilities for operations for tonsils and adenoids
have much advanced, the waiting list is very short and the operations
performed at a local hospital by the Specialist attending our Ear Nose
and Throat Clinic.
On reviewing the Ophthalmic Clinic workings, a somewhat large
number of children are still prescribed spectacles; one might expect
that the overall improvement in community health would reduce the incidence
of defective vision. Could it be another case of improved standards
of ascertainment, and does T.V. viewing have any effect? The inception
of the Orthoptic Clinic enables children to have treatment for squint etc.
quickly and locally.
A visit to the four Health Services Clinics makes one aware of the
modern appliances, fittings, etc. especially in the Orthopaedic and Dental