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staffs and the speech therapists. Full sessions have continued to
be worked in schools where a large enough number of speech defective
children are found.
We continue to welcome the early referral of children with
speech or language disorders. Many such children benefit from
speech therapy prior to attending school. It is encouraging to note
the prompt referral of even minor speech defects, following the
parents expressing concern regarding the child's speech, as this is
always a good enough reason for referring them for advice and/or
treatment."
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
Mr. E. V. Haigh, Area Dental Officer, submits the following report:—
"The School Dental Service in the Ilford Area continued to
expand during 1963. This improvement in the service has been
progressing slowly since 1960, when the total equivalent full time
dental officers was only two. Now by the end of 1963 we have an
equivalent full time staff of six; five full time dental officers and
one surgery staffed by part-time surgeons. In April of this year Mr.
Hodgson commenced full time duty at Mayesbrook Clinic and then in
September Mr. Toolsy, who had been with us as a part-time officer
for several years, changed over to full time duty at Kenwood Clinic.
Mr. Willson and Mr. Bowe continued with their services at Kenwood
and Valentines Clinics respectively. All surgeries are now fully
staffed.
This increase in staff has enabled the dental service to undertake
more school inspections and also to re-inspect more patients
treated at the Clinics. One of the most important duties of dental
officers is the regular inspection of children at school. These
inspections are often the only way of notifying the parents that their
children's teeth are in need of dental treatment. Unfortunately many
parents do not take any notice of our advice to receive treatment
either from Private Practitioners or School Dental Service.
During the latter part of 1963 I co-opted the assistance of many
Headmasters and Headmistresses to try and get more consent forms
returned after a school inspection. This has helped considerably
because in the past many forms advising treatment were not taken
home to the parent. However, with the teachers' help we have had a
greater response and more have agreed to school dental treatment.