[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Benfleet U.D.C., Canvey Island U.D.C., Rayleigh U.D.C., Rochford R.D.C. (South East Essex).

  • Benfleet (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1964
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Benfleet U.D.C., Canvey Island U.D.C., Rayleigh U.D.C., Rochford R.D.C. (South East Essex). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    r hiropody The position in this field has not, I regret, changed since my last annual rejiort in that this scrvdce remains unavailable to school children. It is still necessary to refer children requiring chiropody treatment to school clinics, general practitioners, hospital or jirivate chiropodists. I can only repeat what I said last year that with the increasing provision of swimming pools at Schools, the incidence of verruca must be expected to increase bringing a healthy physical activity into disrepute. Again, it is hoped that something can be done to improve matters in the not too distant future. Infectious Diseases There has been no undue incidence of infectious diseases amongst school children during the year. Handicapped Pupils Table VIl shows the position with regard to handicapped pupils in this area at the end of the vear. Educationally Sub-Normal As will be seen from Table VH, there are now 25 children awaiting admission to special schools against 21 at the same time last year. The fact that the position has not deteriorated by a greater number is entirely attributable to transfers from the area. Of the children at present on the waiting list, six have been waiting one to two years, three two to three years and three three to four years. There would appear to be little likelihood of the position improving until the Day Special School in this area is opened in April 1966. By this time at least one of the children on the waiting list will have reached school leaving age and will have left school without having had the benefit of attendance at a special school—a most regrettable event. Physically HandicappedjDelicate There are now 40 children from this area attending the Southend Day Special School and I am indebted to Dr. Logan, Medical Officer of Health, Southend County Borough and his deputy. Dr. Preston, for their invaluable assistance in this connection. Because of this, placement of children in these categories has been very satisfactory. Thirteen children were newly ascertained and 12 were admitted to special schools, seven of these to the Southend Open Air School. Ine\’itably, there must be a limit to the number of cases that can be accepted at this school and there is a serious risk of a build-up of the waiting list during the coming year. The only alternative at the present time would be to send children to residential special schools, an undesirable and medically unnecessary practice in a large number of cases. It mav be that consideration will have to be given to the provision of day special school facilities in the ('ounty for ])u])ils from tliis area. A close eye will be kej't on the position. 1 must also exjiress mv apiu'eiiation to Dr. Dobbs, Consultant Paediatrician at the Southend (leneral Hos})ital for his ad\’iceand assist- ance in dealing with handicapped children.