[Report 1951] / School Medical Officer of Health, Coventry.

  • Coventry (England). City Council.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / School Medical Officer of Health, Coventry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    duty in June, 1951. Miss (.iluver became our mobile speech therapist and soon evidenced a special interest in the treatment of children suffering from effects of cerebral palsy. Since the “spastic” unit was opened at Baginton Fields Special School in October, 1951, there have been five speech therapy sessio7is per week at the school and already considerable progress has been made with a number of children. Miss Carr and Miss Glover'^both report later concerning their work during the year and on perusal of these reports it will become apparent that the situation has radically altered for the better. SPECIAL CLINICS AT THE HOSPITAL OR ELSEWHERE. We continue to have the most satisfactory co-operation with the appropriate specialists of the Regional Hospital Board and the -Issistant .School Medical Officers much appreciate^ for example, the opportunity of doing ward rounds with the Pcediatrician thereby keeping in touch with clinical medicine, particidarly as it applies to children. Child Guidance Clinic. Child Cuidatice Sessions are still held at the Coventry and ]]arwickshire Hospital as mentioned by Dr. Cillman in his report. The Local Education Authority Child Guidance Centre was opened in September, 1951, hut it was only possible to deal with certain problems because of staff shortage. So far, there has been no child psychiatrist appointed and until this happens it cannot be expected that the Clinic will operate to complete satisfaction. Com- ments from Mrs. Hedges, the Educational Psychologist, upon the school psychological aspect of the work at the Child Guidance Centre are available in the body of this report. Okthop.edic Treatment. These arrangements are still carried on satisfactorily as here- tofore at the Paybody Orthopcedic Clinic. It is hoped to transfer the special clinic for the observation and treatment of cerebral palsy cases to the unit at Baginton Fields School in due course. The same team zvhich has performed such good and harmonious work in the past and consisting of Mr. Penrose^. Orthopcedic Surgeon; Dr. Parry Williams, Pcediatrician ; Dr. Gaffney, .Senior Assistant .School .Medical Officer; together with Dr. Martin, Assistatit School Medical Officer; Mrs. Thomas, Physiotherapist; and Miss Glover, .Speech I'lierapist; hope to see these children at reasonable and regular interxuds (possibly each month). From these joint co'nsulla- tio)is it will be possible to determine the physical and mental capa- bilities of the children, to offer appropriate advice, give necessary treatment, and to assess the children’s progress. .Such consulta- tions, held, when possible,, in conjunction ivith the Headmaster, should do much to advance the capabilities and welfare of cerebral palsied children and would supplement in specialised form the more frequent routine inspections and treatment undertaken by the .4ssistant .School Medical Officers and Medical Auxiliaries.