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Owing to war-time disturbances, figures for 1940 and 1941 are not available.
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT TREATMENT. This form of treatment, utilising the ultra-violet rays
from mercury vapour lamps, is given at the Children's Hospital, Balaam Street. As might be
expected, the numbers referred for treatment reach a maximum in the winter months. New cases
referred during the year totalled 86, but, of these, 8 failed to achieve the regular attendances
which are so essential for success.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE. It is regretted that owing to lack of personnel it was not
possible to avail ourselves of the accommodation provided for two dental clinics at Credon
Road School.
During the early part of the year, until his resignation in May, Mr. Dick continued
to act as Senior Dental Officer. Mr. Glen, who succeeded Mr. Aitchison as Senior Dental
Officer in July, has submitted the following remarks on the Dental Service:
"The event of ray taking up the appointment of Senior Dental Officer on July 1st 1948,
had been preceded by the unfortunate resignation of Mr.J.S.Dick who left for West Sussex,
after 25 years invaluable service with the County Borough of West Ham; some 2 years of which
he had had control of an enthusiastic and expanding scheme. I found that the allocation of
schools to each Dental Officer had already been re-arranged, and in consequence time could
be found to work off the Orthodontic waiting list during the process of 'settling-in'.
A further settled proceeding towards an efficient scheme; became impossible when in
November Mrs.Kubicka resigned after 5 years service to join her husband in Poland. In spite
of every effort made by the Council, no replacements of staff were obtained, and arrangements
were made to provide a 'Casualty1 service in part-time clinics throughout the Borough. This
arrangement was successful as far as it went, but could in no way fulfil the wishes of the
Council in the provision of an adequate scheme. This must now remain in abeyance until the
problem of the staffing of the school clinics, which has become a national one, has been
tackled energetically by the controlling authorities."
A tabular summary of the work of this service appears in the appendix, pages 69 and 70.
SPEECH DEFECTS. In the latter part of 1947 it was arranged that the Chief Assistant
School Medical Officer should make periodic visits to the Speech Clinic in order to assist
the Speech Therapist in any difficulties which might arise. Following on this practice 27
visits were made during the year. Several cases were referred to the Aural Specialist regarding
the possibility of partial deafness, also certain nose and throat conditions. Somechildren
attending the Speech Clinic were found to be educationally subnormal and special
educational treatment, either at the special schools or ordinary schools, was arranged. It
was necessary to send some children to the Fyfield Open-Air School and to Convalescent Homes.
On several occasions the students of speech therapy who attend this clinic were observed at
work by the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer. In May, the Speech Therapist commenced
working one session a week (Monday morning) at the Grange Road Child Welfare Clinic. This
arrangement was made on account of the poor attendance of children at the Credon Road Clinic
from schools in the Grange Road area - Gainsborough Road, Grange Road and Star Lane.
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