London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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46
"I have to express my thanks to all staff, teaching, welfare and
transport for their continued efforts on behalf of the children."
The table below shows the principal defects in the children at the school at the end of the vear :—
| Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | ||||
| 1 | — | — | 1 | ||
| 1 | — | — | |||
| — | 1 | 1 | |||
| 1 | 1 | 4 | — | ||
| 1 | — | — | 1 |
(d) School for the Physically Handicapped.—Mr. G. M.
Williams, Headmaster of the Wingfield House School, reports as
follows :—
"At the end of the year the school had a roll of eighty-nine
children with three children awaiting admission. During the year
there have been persistent requests for admission of handicapped
children below the age of five years who are in need of nursery
education. It has not been possible to give places to these young
handicapped children as the accommodation and staffing are not
available.
"The number of children with more than one handicap shows
no sign of diminishing ; there were twenty-one children with poor
mentality allied to other defects ; three children were found to have
hearing disabilities necessitating provision of hearing aids ; thirteen
were having regular speech therapy and four children have three
major defects. There were eight non-ambulant children on roll.
"During the summer holiday period internal renovations and
decorations were carried out to rooms in the main building. The
school was kept open during part of the summer holiday period on
a voluntary basis. Forty-two children attended and maintained a
good average attendance throughout the period. Visits were
arranged to Thorpe Bay and Shoeburyness, and Forest walks and
rambles were undertaken by the more ablebodied.
"Visitors to the school during the year included medical officers
from Jugoslavia, the Phillipines and Hong Kong, post-graduate
medical students from Whipps Cross Hospital, Teacher Training
College students and a hospital almoner.
"Miss Foster resigned from the teaching staff in August, her
place being taken by Miss Gooch.
"An Officers' Case Committee to consider placement of school
leavers in employment was set up and two meetings were held
during the year.
"Dr. Poole has made regular weekly visits and his ready help
has at all times been available for children and parents alike. This
has been much appreciated.