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Hospital Treatment.
A Ministry of Education Circular 29 was issued in March, 1945,
emphasising the need for comprehensive facilities for free medical
treatment for all pupils in attendance at schools maintained by local
education authorities. The provisions of the circular, intended to
cover an interim period during the serious shortage of doctors,
dentists and nurses, are made without prejudice to the ultimate
establishment of a National Health Service. Authorities are
advised in the first place to concentrate on improving and perfecting
their existing schemes for treatment. The personal health services
which should be provided are listed in the circular, and with the
exception of the establishment of a local Child Guidance Clinic, all
the services recommended are already included in the school health
service in Tottenham.
It is further recommended that the school health service should
extend its range of hospital treatment. Payment to voluntary
hospitals, it is suggested, should be a matter for individual agreement
; and the practice in this area has been for payment on a
capitation basis for specific forms of treatment on application by the
hospital concerned. Situated on the borders of the London
Metropolitan area, Tottenham is within easy access of all the main
London teaching and specialist hospitals. In addition it is
fortunate in having the Prince of Wales's General Hospital within
its own boundaries.
Speech Therapy.
A whole-time Speech Therapist was appointed during the year,
and all cases hitherto referred for treatment at a special class held at
the Authority's School for the Deaf, were transferred to the speech
therapy clinics held in health centres throughout the district.