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
Tottenham 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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77
Vale Road School for Physically Handicapped Children
Cerebral Palsy Unit
During the year 25 children suffering from cerebral palsy were cared for at the Vale Road Day
Special School for Physically Handicapped Children, Tottenham, The visiting consultant (Dr.
William Dunham) exercises close supervision of these children, reviewing them individually at
regular intervals. Teachers, therapist, school nurse and parents all strive to one end; namely,
to enable these severely handicapped children to tackle the everyday activities of home and
classroom, as far as possible, in a normal way.
At the end of the year plans were well advanced for the opening of a small class for three
or four children suffering from partial deafness as well as cerebral palsy. Not all children with
dual handicaps are so happily placed, however; and it is difficult to find a suitable environment
for palsied children with severe mental retardation. The educational authorities, not unnaturally,
tend to regard these children of very low intellect as unsuitable for education in school. On
the other hand, their physical frailty and unsteady gait render their placement in a junior training
centre a hazardous procedure; nor is it reasonable to expect that adequate treatment of their
physical handicap can be provided at such a centre.
ANALYSIS OF CASES SEEN AT CEREBRAL PALSY UNIT IN 1960
| Male | Female | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 5-10 years | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 10 -15 years | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Over 15 years | - | - | - |
| Total | 6 | 5 | 11 |
Continued from previous page...
| Diagnosis | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerebral Palsy | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Mental Retardation | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Spinal Paraplegia | 1 | - | 1 |
| Total | 6 | 5 | 11 |
6 CONFIRMED CASES OF CEREBRAL PALSY - ACTION TAKEN
Admitted to Vale Road School in 1960 and awaiting placement
in residential P.H. School 1
Awaiting vacancy at Vale Road School 1
Referred back to home area for admission to special training school 1
For admission to ordinary school on trial (1961) 1
Referred back to home area for admission to nursery school 1
Under school age 1
6