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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 44.
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
By Mr. J.H. Glen, L.D.S.
The combining of the two services, the Maternity and Child Welfare Service with the
Education Service in July 1948, made it possible with the permission of the committees
concerned, to transfer the use of buildings and equipment to the benefit of both services.
With the small staff available, it was decided in the beginning of 1949 that as the Maternity
and Child Welfare Clinics at Maybury Road, Forest Street and Grange Road were convenient for
surrounding groups of schools, that they should be used for the treatment of school children.
For this reason the dental rooms at the Balaam Street Clinic were vacated and handed back to
the School Medical Service, and the work previously done there transferred to Grange Road
Clinic. At the same time, part-time attendance was made by the Dental Officers for four
sessions a week at each of the remainder of the Council's Clinics.
The arrangement worked well, and proved to be a considerable advantage to the parents
in the provision of "a nearest to their home" treatment centre; until the resignation of
Mr.McNamara in June. There was then no alternative but to close all of the clinics in the
Borough except the three surgeries provided in West Ham Lane, to which the three remaining
Dental Surgeons retreated.
No school inspections are now possible and only restricted service can be provided
in accordance with the recommendation of the Minister of Education, that those children
who attend the clinic in need, or with a request for treatment, should be given as
complete service as the facilities provided in the area will allow, It was in this manner
that the provision of dental treatment for school children was carried out until the end of
the year.
A tabular summary of the work of this service appears in appendix No,5, pages 68-70.
SPEECH DEFECTS. The Chief Assistant School Medical Officer continued to make periodic
visits to the speech clinic in order to assist the speech therapist in any difficulties
which might arise in her work. During the year 21 visits were made to the Credon Road
Clinic, and 6 visits to the Grange Road Clinic, which is held only one session a week.
A number of cases were referred to the Aural Specialist for nose and throat conditions and
for the possibility of partial deafness existing. A few cases were recommended.for a
stay at the Fyfield Open-Air School, and often marked improvement occurred. Occasionally
a child is seen at the speech clinic who is attending the Child Guidance Clinic also, and
in such a case it is advisable for the speech therapist to attend the case conference.
There is complete co-operation between the speech clinic and the various specialist officers.
The Chief Assistant School Medical Officer acts as the liaison officer between the speech
therapist and these various specialist officers.
One girl was admitted to the special residential school for Speech Defects at Moor
House Special School, Hurst Green, Oxted, Surrey, and the Authority accepted responsibility
for the maintenance of one boy at the same school.
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