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More frequent medical counselling of parents is
slowly being achieved by additional clinic sessions
and it is felt that this is of some benefit to the
parents. The numbers on the register have not
greatly changed—373 at the end of 1965 and
370 at the end of 1966. The number of severely
subnormal children on the waiting list for
permanent hospital care is 15 and remains the
same as that for the end of 1965. Although
several vacancies have already been provided by
Leavesden Hospital new cases have been added to
the hospital waiting list. The care of these very
severely handicapped children in the community
places a great strain upon community services,
but more particularly of course, upon the
families concerned.
It should also be emphasized that the hospital
waiting list is artificially low because the only
hospital available is Leavesden which is so far
removed from the borough as to be impracticable
for frequent visiting. Parents tend therefore, only
to ask for hospital care for children when the
family is near to breaking point. 1 would like to
reiterate the need for a small hospital unit
within the community it serves. It is encouraging
to learn that at least one regional hospital board,
Wessex is thinking along these lines. My overtures
to the North West Regional Hospital Board
to consider providing such a unit or to enter into
a con-joint scheme with this authority have so far
been rejected on financial grounds.
One particular problem is that of transporting
the patients to and from the special care units
each day. At present they are carried in large
coaches that are hired on contract from various
firms. This often means long and tedious
journeys for these very severely handicapped
children without any special facility for their care
whilst in transit.
Because of the size of the coaches it is often not
practicable to pick these patients up at their
homes. A larger number of 'minibuses' might
prove satisfactory, primarily by being able to
pick the patients up at home and by reducing the
length of the time the children are in transit.
The liaison with the two local parents'
associations is continuing and the relationship
proves of value to both sides.
Junior Training Schools and Special Care Units
Isleworth Junior Training School Bridge Road
Isleworth
There has been no material change concerning
this school since my last report and it continues
to run smoothly and efficiently. Unfortunately the
supervisor will be retiring in December 1967 and
she will prove difficult to replace.
In view of the number of children with physical
handicaps, it is considered that an increase in the
number of physiotherapy sessions should be
sought and further speech therapy sessions are
also considered desirable. All the children at the
school have recently been screened for hearing
defects and it is hoped to make 'screening' a
routine procedure both for hearing and vision.
Hanworth Junior Training School Bear Road
Hanworth
The additional electrical heating which was
provided has proved of great benefit to the
children, who having poor circulations, require
more than an average standard of heating.
Teaching in this school continues to be
progressive and of a high standard and the
supervisor is encouraging groups of parents to
come to the school to observe the teaching and
training methods. Thus it is hoped the children
will be helped by parents employing the same
methods at home and that the parents will learn
to drop the attitudes of over-protection that are
so common.
During the year swimming was started as an
additional activity and a group of suitable
children are taken by assistant supervisors to the
local swimming baths for instruction.
Fortunately this school is soon to be replaced
by larger purpose-built premises and both
children and staff will benefit by the greatly
improved facilities.
During the course of the year a speech
therapist has become available to the school for
one session a week.
Colombo House 1 Ferry Road Teddington
The arrangement mentioned in my last report
whereby this authority provided a teacher for a
class at Colombo House has continued. The class
will be absorbed into the new school at Hanworth.
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