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school children were seen of which 37 had
cerebral palsy 22 had spina bifida and 10 had
other physical defects Many of these children
are multiply handicapped and early diagnosis
and assessment is essential in order to make
satisfactory educational provision for each
child 30 children of school age were seen as
outpatients in the unit. This group of children
had a variety of defects 93 children attending
Martindale School were also examined during
the year The following table shows the type
of handicap dealt with at the unit during the
year
Type of handicap dealt with at the Medical
Advisory Unit 1968
Martindale Outpatients
School pupi Is
Cerebral palsy 49 60
Spina Bifida 6 22
Meningitis &
encephalitis 2
Brain tumours 4
Poliomyelitis 5 1
Muscular dystrophy 7
Haemophilia &
allied conditions 4 4
Congenital heart
disease 4 3
Multiple deformities 3 5
Spinal atrophy 2
Rheumatoid arthritis 3
Other physical handicaps
4 2
Fifty-nine children received speech therapy
during the year Ten new patients were seen
Defects fell into the following categories
13 athetoids with dysarthria & dysphonia
usually accompanied by hearing loss
3 dysphasia
2 hypernasality
5 ataxic dysarthria
4 stammer
4 dysarthria & dysphonia
17 retarded speech & language
10 dyslalia
1 dysphonia
dysarthria
The number of children requiring physiotherapy
in 1968 increased 6 801 treatments were given
of which 415 were for pre school age out patient
children This number was attained in spite of
considerable staffing problems during the year The
patents of all children attending the unit are
encouraged to ask questions and discuss any
problems during the treatment at out patient visits
they make with their children
Evening discussion groups have also been held
which were of considerable help to both the parents
and the staff of the unit The physiotherapists
continued to take an active part in the school
activities Twenty one children were coached and
entered for the Junior British Sports for the Disabled
at Stoke Mandeville Fifty eight children were
coached and entered for the inter school sports held
at Martindale School in July Children were also
entered for the Inner London Education Authority
swimming gala and a gala at the Franklin Delano
Roosevelt School
The teaching activities of the unit have continued
Medical students from St Bartholomews Hospital
attended for lecture demonstrations Physiotherapy
students from the West Middlesex Hospital attended
Martindale for their paediatric experience Numerous
visitors from other parts of the country and abroad
have visited the unit
In October Dr Barlow retired from his paediatric
appointment at the West Middlesex Hospital and
also from his appointment as paediatric consultant
to the Medical Advisory Unit at Martindale School
Dr Barlow had held this appointment since the
Medical Unit was opened in 1957 His kindness and
patience were much appreciated in his work for the
Unit and we wish him well in his retirement in
Scotland
Dr Neil 0 Doherty succeeded Dr Barlow as
consultant at the West Middlesex Hospital and we
welcome him as paediatric consultant to the
Medical Advisory Unit.
Child Guidance Clinic
I am grateful to Dr Calwell MB BS DPM for sub
mitting the following information
As always the chief problem in the child
guidance clinic is one of priorities There is
potentially an insatiable demand on the clinic
services In fact this year the waiting list was
reduced owing to the restraint of those who refer
cases and the appointment of a new psychiatric
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