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(b) Dental
In view of the national shortage of Local Authority Dental Officers
the Borough is fortunate to have a full-time dental officer in attendance
at the local clinic, and pupils have the advantage of having
their teeth periodically inspected when the Dental Officer visits the
schools.
A summary of attendances and work carried out at the dental
clinic is given at Appendix "B".
(c) Speech Therapy.
The Speech Therapist attends at the clinic for two days each week
and assistance is given by students from recognised training colleges
for Speech Therapists.
The following specialist clinics are staffed by Officers of the
Regional Hospital Board:
(d) Ophthalmic
An ophthalmologist attends once each week to see children who
have been referred by School Medical Officers for investigation of
defects of vision.
(e) Orthopaedic
An Orthopaedic Surgeon visits once a month. The School Medical
Officer and a School Nurse are also in attendance at this session.
(f) Physiotherapy
Three sessions a week are held with a qualified Physiotherapist
in attendance. Treatment is supervised by the School Medical
Officer.
4. Child Guidance Service
This service continues to expand and outpace the facilities available
with an ever-increasing number of children referred for psychiatric
treatment. At the end of the year the waiting period for most cases
was 6—9 months; each case is dealt with on its merits and urgent
cases treated accordingly.
Steps have been taken to reduce the case load at the Walthamstow
Child Guidance next year, which should result in a considerable
reduction in the waiting time for children from this Borough.
5. B.C.G. Vaccination of Schoolchildren
The parents of 484 pupils of 13 years of age were invited to consent
to their child being vaccinated with B.C.G.; 323 (66.7 per cent)
did so. In view of the many other preventative vaccinations now
being offered to schoolchildren, the acceptance rate for the B.C.G.
scheme can be regarded as satisfactory.
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