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Further progress was made during the year 1952, the Centre became more widely
known and. parents began to appreciate the good work being done there. An additional
assistant supervisor was appointed and the number of children on the register increased
to 42. Plans were also prepared to adapt a further section of the depot for use as a
handicraft section for the older boys. This new project is expected to come into
operation early in 1953.
The report of the Supervisor, Miss F.E. Forshaw, for the year 1952 is given
belows:-
We commenced the year 1952 with 33 children on the register, 17 boys and 13
girls full-time and three part-time senior boys that quite soon became full-time
attenders. As the winter gave place to really good weather our attendance kept a
fairly high level and in spite of staff shortage we progressed.
We had a very enjoyable outing during the summer, all but one child being able
to go, and with the help of friends and some parents we had a good day.
We also held an Open afternoon when the children gave a display of dancing,
singing and speech jingles to a large gathering of parents, officials and friends. Sale
of handwork during the year amounted to Just over £10 which we feel gave satisfaction to
the children and real pleasure to their parents.
During the year plans have gone ahead for the adaptation of a boys craft section
where they can specialise on work and lessons more suited to growing boys, this will
leave much more room for the younger children and give better grading of the sections.
We are expecting this department to be ready early in the New Year.
Looking backwards since our commencement in July, 1950, we have grown and
expanded in size to 42 children on the register and what is more important we have established
a progressive Centre where defective children can be helped towards some independance,
trained in good habits, and those suitable taught handicrafts, and where all benefit
by community life and more scope than would be possible in their own homes.
We look forward to 1953 with keenness of even more progress, both in our ability
to cope with more children still and the steady forward movement of most of the children
in our care.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948. Section 47.
During the year action was taken under the National Assistance (Amendment) Act,1951
In respect of one case. This patient, a woman aged 62 years, was visited at the request
of her private doctor who had been unable to persuade her to enter hospital. She was
found to be living alone and confined to bed suffering from auricular fibrillation and
congestive heart failure. She was dyspnoeic and had some ascitles and oedema of the lumber
region. It was considered necessary to remove her to hospital without delay. The Order
for detention was for the permitted period of 3 weeks, and she was admitted to a local
hospital which is concerned mainly with the treatment of old people. It was not necessary
to apply for an extension of the Order as the patient settled down quite well in the
hospital where she stayed until she died some months later.
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