[Report 1944] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Southend-on-Sea Borough.

  • Southend-on-Sea (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1944
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1944] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Southend-on-Sea Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    51/58 (page 47)
    In preparation for “ D ” day hospital admissions were restricted d this caused an increase in the waiting list of children requiring erative treatment and considerable delay between the time of a ild’s reference to the surgeon and his admission to hospital. This in part responsible for the fact that the number of operations rformed was 120 as compared with 158 in 1943. As however the ild population was increasing during the period under review, by ison of return from evacuation, it is likely that a smaller proportion children were referred for operative treatment. (d) Orthopaedic Clinic, The regular quarterly sessions were held as formerly at the uthend General Hospital, provision being made for children re¬ aring intermediate treatment to be seen by appointment at any ne on the consultant surgeon’s out-patient day. Difficulty was 11 experienced in obtaining appliances and particularly ready made )twear. The Remedial Treatment Centre was not re-opaned. Children piiring special exercises attended the physiotherapy department the Southend General Hospital. In-patient treatment for short-stay cases is provided at Southend meral Hospital. The long-stay cases where educational provision required are sent to Orthopaedic Hospital Schools which are ddential special schools for physical defectives. {c) Speech Clinic. The Speech Therapist is employed as a whole-time Officer by is authority, her services being shared by the Essex County Council, lie Clinic is held on five sessions each week, three being at the inicipal Health Centre and two at selected schools. In addition the regular Clinic sessions at schools 42 visits were made to schools ’ consultations with Head Teachers and interviews with children lose names had been submitted for treatment. Close liaison is lintained with the Child Guidance Clinic. 35 new patients were mitted, of whom 13 were stammerers, 5 suffered from cleft-palates, d 17 from miscellaneous articulatory defects. Two children with ft palates were referred to Consultants, specialists in plastic i'Pgery. i I 35 children were discharged during the year, of whom 24 were igarded as cured; 3 are still under observation and exhibit a stammer dly under conditions of stress or excitement; 3 left the neighbour- [ od or left school; 3 refused further treatment and 2 relapsed. A large number of names was submitted and there is a big uiting list. Fortunately many of these children have only slight fficulatory defects and are able, with advice from the Speech -lerapist, to help themselves to a very large extent and in some fses to make subsequent intensive therapy unnecessary.