London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Richmond upon Thames 1970

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]

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Referring Agents :
General Practitioners 16
School Medical Officers 24
Head Teachers and Educational Psychologists 53
Parents 53
Speech Therapists and Health Visitors 9
Children's Department 6
Miscellaneous Agencies 12
TOTAL 173
During the year we were fortunate in having the services of Miss Marriott who
extended her attendance as psychotherapist to 5 sessions a week, and Mrs. Powell,
psychotherapist, who gives us one whole day. This has been immensely helpful and
we have been extremely sorry that Miss Marriott is, owing to pressure of commitments,
unable to continue this apportioning of her time.
During last year we lost the services of Mrs. MacMillan, one of our psychiatric
social workers who had been with us for many years. She is much missed by patients
and staff. After her departure we were extremely fortunate that Miss Lomax found
herself able to increase her sessions to full-time and for many months she coped alone
with all the demands that the Clinic imposes.
We continue to appreciate the help the Maria Grey post-graduate students give
in the remedial teaching field, during their training. We had also once more a postgraduate
student from the Institute of Education (London University) and in this
symbiotic process we each gain.
The Borough's two special schools for maladjusted children are continuing to
function most beneficially. Infant Oldfield is expanding and in the absence of provision
for day education of maladjusted children of senior age group the Head Teacher of
Junior Oldfield has had a special class with senior trained teachers made available.
Children from Junior Oldfield reaching senior school standard have progressed so satisfactorily
that many went on to senior secondary modern schools.
The Autistic Unit at Athelstan House continues to provide for the more severely
mentally handicapped child and two children have been integrated into normal schools.

Table XVIII.

Child Guidance Treatment.

Number of cases known to have been treated.
Pupils treated at Child Guidance Clinics259
Table XIX. Orthopaedic and Postural Defects.
Number of cases known to have been treated.
(a) Pupils treated at clinics or out-patient departments179
(b) Pupils treated at school for postural defects42
221