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83
on hygiene, clothes and school meals. Medical Officers wish to
know aboat children's immunisations and a visit to explain to
parents about referrals to special clinics by this special nurse
has made things much easier. The families usually attend the
chest clinic with at least one English speaking member of the
family (sometimes a school child) so that our difficulties here
are not so great. The Health Visitors and School Nurses have
also taken part in obtaining information on the number of
immigrants and children of school age resident in the Borough.
This was a much bigger job than at first thought. Surnames
have a most disconcerting way of changing to plain English
ones in a few months. Our present day school work contains a
fair amount of visiting families to persuade them to accept the
facilities provided. Poor clothing and foot wear are noticed by
school teachers or the Health Visitor/School Nurse. The
W.R.V.S. and the Education Authority are approached if the
parents agree. No child needs to stay away from school to care
for a sick parent at home. Home Help Services and District
Nurses are all available to assist. So often the child is away
from school that persuasion from the Health Visitor and School
Nurse with supportive services, quickly gets the child back to
the classroom.
Case conferences continue to be held on families with
problems. Fortunately these are few, but they are usually
known to many other officers both statutory and voluntary.
Planned educational programmes by the Health Visitoi/
School Nurse and the Health Education Officer are held in
school. Family life, human relationships at home, at school
and in the community are all helpful to children."
Co-ordination
of Education,
Health and
Welfare Services
for
Handicapped
Children and
Young People
Last year, as a result of a request from two ministries, local
authorities were asked to review the co-ordination of these
services in their areas. In our reply the following were among
points made.
Redbridge operates an Observation Register so that
children whose history indicates an increased risk because of
adverse pre, peri or post natal factors are specially observed
so handicaps, if they arise are detected and diagnosed early.
At the Local Authority's own school for Physically Handicapped
Children the closest co-operation, exists between the
responsible medical officer and the educational staff. (The
headmaster and the school doctor meet at least twice a week
to plan for the children).