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9
as social workers. I hope that we will be able to do at least as well as
we now do in Ilford, where, contrary to what obtains in many other local
authorities, we, at the moment, have no shortage of dentists, chiropodists,
midwives or school medical officers. Even the establishment of public
health inspectors will shortly be complete.
Our Child Guidance Clinic, although not up to establishment,
compared most favourably with similar clinics, and is an excellent
example of the "brain-drain" in reverse, for we could hardly carry on
with the present efficiency without our Central and Eastern European
visiting colleagues (at times even the Americas have contributed).
In the School Health Service, the most important occasion this
year has been the opening of the Ethel Davis School for the Physically
Handicapped, one of the most up-to-date in the country, and replacing
the old Benton Road School, with its Cerebral Palsy Unit annexe that
was some miles away from the parent school. We have, somewhat
regretfully, severed our administrative connection with the two County
residential schools in Surrey and Oxfordshire, coupled, however, with a
sense of relief as adequate administration and medical supervision of
schools far on the other side of London cannot be conducted efficiently,
especially in emergencies.
As before, I would like to draw attention to contributions by others
to this report; Dr. Gurassa, the Medical Director, and the Educational
Psychologists on the Child Guidance Service, Dr. Gordon-Smith and
Dr. Taylor on Health Education, Dr. Gross on problems of the school
for the physically handicapped, the reports of the Welfare Worker for
the Aged, the Chief Public Health Inspector, and others.
Again, I would like to thank all those who help us in a voluntary
capacity, the Ilford Social Service Association; the Ilford Federation
of Voluntary Workers, W.V.S., St. John, Red Cross, and many others.
This year 1 must especially thank those in my department who
are carrying, in addition to their usual duties, the heavy responsibilities
of planning the new Redbridge, and our move to Clements Road. I would
like to include here also those employed presently by other authorities
but appointed to and working now for the new borough.