London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
West Ham 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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REPORT ON THE WORK OP THE SPEECH CLINIC
by Miss R.CLARKE, L.C.S.T.
The year 1948 has seen some changes at the Speech Clinic. In January permission
was obtained for speech therapy students from the West End Hospital for Nervous Diseases,
to attend the clinic as part of their practical training. Four students attend weekly.
This has enabled more cases to be dealt with at a time, and the waiting list has been reduced
to a minimum.
Once again there have been attendance difficulties. This was noticed particularly in
the Manor Road area, from where there is no direct bus route to the clinic. It was therefore
arranged for a session to be held, one afternoon a week, at the Maternity and Child Welfare
Clinic in Grange Road.
This started in May and now serves six schools in the area, but only for those whose parents are unable to make the Journey to Credon Road.
| Statistics; | |
| Children attending the clinic | 142 |
| Regular attendants | 110 |
| Stammerers | |
| Dyslalia | |
| Cleft palate | |
| Sigmatism | |
| Hyperrhinolalia | 4 |
| Mild deafness | 2 |
| Spastic | 1 |
| Discharged improved | 58 |
Out of 142 cases 110 were boys. Five children received treatment at Grange Road
Special School. Several children were referred to the Aural Specialist and one child
received treatment at the Child Guidance Clinic.
I am grateful to all those who have co-operated with the work, as the assistance
of parents and teachers is essential for the success of the treatment.
CHILD GUIDANCE. Unfortunately Miss Roubicek, the Psychiatric Social Worker, tendered
her resignation at the end of the year and despite every effort the part-time services of a
Psychiatric Social Worker were not obtained until the following May.
Although DroSomerville was Medical Director during 1948 the following report has been
submitted by Dr.Riordan who succeeded Dr. Somerville in 1949•
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE WEST HAM CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC
by T.P.RIORDAN, M.B., B.Ch., D.P.M.
GENERAL. During the year 1948 the general trend of growth of activities evident during
the preceding years was maintained. The appointment by the Education Authority in June 1948
of a Psychologist - Miss Frankford, who divides her time between school work and clinic work
was most welcome. Already by her activities a closer integration of schools and clinic has
been achieved and child guidance facilities are being used with greater discrimination by the
school authorities.
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