[Report 1955] / School Medical Officer of Health, Coventry.

  • Council of Coventry City Council
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / School Medical Officer of Health, Coventry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Town Thorns Residential School Dr. E. Killey reports as follows:— “The children at Town Thorns have continued to make very satisfactory progress during the year, and there has been considerable improvement in their general health, behaviour and bearing. There has been very little severe illness, and there has been a steady decrease in the incidence of colds, influenza, skin conditions and other minor ailments. A certain number of old standing conditions are still under treatment at the appropriate specialist departments. One child was admitted to the In- fectious Diseases Hospital during last term; there was one case of appendicitis during the year, and one child was admitted to hospital for mastoid operation. There has been no epidemic illness at the school to date, and I feel that this fact, together with the very low incidence of minor infections and iUness is remarkable in a community of this type, and is very largely due to the excellent standards of nutrition, general care, environment and employment, together with the atmosphere of well being and security which the children enjoy at Town Thorns. I still feel that some provision for postural remedial exercises would be of great value at the school and would help to improve the general standard of health yet further”. Paybody Hospital Special School The following is a report from the Teacher in Charge, Miss M. C. Craven:— “The year has been notable only for the reduction in numbers of children receiving long-term treatment for orthopaedic diseases. Of the 96 who re- ceived instruction during the period of treatment, 56 were resident for periods of three months or less. Of the remaining 40, by far the greater number received treatment for Perthe’s Disease of the hips, involving two years immobilisation, while the remainder were being treated for T.B. joints. Osteomyelitis, Poliomyelitis, etc. Many of those discharged would be re- turning to normal school life, while others were transferred to Baginton Fields School”. A double check is kept on children discharged from this hospital. The usual note from the Hospital Authorities is sent to the Medical Officer of Health and Principal School Medical Officer together with any recommend- ations regarding the need for special education or continued observation etc. In addition, as most of these children receive education while in hospital, the Head Teacher, Miss Craven, notifies the Director of Education when the child- ren leave her classes and adds her observations on their educational attain- ments. These children are then considered by the School Health Department and appropriate recommendation made”. Child Guidance Centre Dr. S. W. Gillman, Consultant Psychiatrist, reports as follows:— “During the last year the work in this clinic has continued to increase and further arrangements have had to be made for children to have individual psychotherapy. My Senior Registrar, Dr. P. R. Needham, gives individual psychotherapy on Thursday mornings and my Registrar, Dr. P. A. Morris, continues on Monday mornings. This arrangement has proved very satis- factory and it is possible that, because of this, cases have improved much more quickly. I attend the clinic on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and am available to see urgent cases on Saturday mornings. Although arrangements have been made for children from the age of fifteen to be seen at the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital very few indeed are seen, but I am quite sure that it would be profitable for some to be seen. No Children’s Psychiatric Unit has been established although one has been authorised by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board which will be situated at Stratford-on-Avon. There is no doubt that such a Unit will be of groat help for the treatment anil observation of severe behaviour disorders.