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Doctors and health visitors work together as a team during the Child Health Sessions.
Appointments are arranged so that children are assessed in the presence of their area health
visitor who in turn informs the medical officer about the child's home background. The health
visitor subsequently follows up by home visit to children who have failed their appointment
and about whom they have no up-to-date knowledge.
The health visitors have their own child welfare sessions to see mothers and children in
their own area, and are available for consultation usually on a weekly basis, in the Child
Health Centre or in general practitioner surgery where an attachment scheme is in operation.
Children whose development is not normal and requires more detailed investigation are
referred to one of our two Development Clinics on the east and west sides of the Borough.
There are at present six Development Clinic sessions per month conducted in Newham. Three
appointments are made for each session consisting of one new and two return cases.
The team in the Development Clinic consists of a Consultant Paediatrician, a Senior
Medical Officer specially trained in developmental paediatrics, a Social Worker (usually a
P.S.W.) and a Health Visitor. In addition, the child's own Area Health Visitor is usually
present to introduce the mother and child, and to give the team the background history of the
child. The Development Clinic Team is supported by other specialists in the Local Authority
Service, e.g. Audiology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Psychiatric etc., Speech Therapists,
Teachers and other professional workers are invited when appropriate, to attend the Development
Clinic for discussion of special cases.
Liaison with hospitals and general practitioners is maintained. The Senior Medical
Officer of the Local Authority is responsible for maintaining this liaison. This is strengthened
where health visitors are attached to general practitioners and acting as hospital liaison
health visitors.
The Development Clinic Team assesses the child and continues the follow-up direct, or
refers the child to an appropriate centre for further assessment, treatment or training. The
Borough is well provided with day care facilities for handicapped children of all types in the
form of nursery classes, in appropriate special schools, e.g. for physically handicapped, the
deaf, the mentally handicapped etc. Where appropriate, an ordinary nursery school or day
nursery, or play centre is recommended. The Speech Therapy Clinics admit also young children
for assessment of specific problems related to speech.
The periodic assessment and follow-up of children in the pre-school period is carried
over into the schools by the School Health Service.
The examination of children aged 4+ in the Child Health Clinics counts really as the
pre-school assessment and is geared to the child's need in relation to pending school entry.
The appointments are sent at 4 years and 3 months, to allow for treatment of any sensory or
other defects before entering school.
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