[Report 1959] / School Medical Officer of Health, Hertfordshire County Council.

  • Hertfordshire (England). County Council. n 50062101.
Date:
1959
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1959] / School Medical Officer of Health, Hertfordshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/44 (page 15)
    SPEECH THERAPY. During the year, one whole and one part-time Therapist resigned, but both vacancies were filled. The position with Speech Therapists in Hertfordshire is very satisfactory compared with many other areas, though this is partly due to the presence in the County of a number of married Therapists who are willing to give part-time service. Mr. Willmore, the senior Speech Therapist who is also on the staff of Guys Hospital, has given the following report— “ Throughout the year there was a general increase in the number of sessions held, and the number of patients attending Speech Clinics. An increase over 1958 of 131 sessions and 775 attendances is recorded. The total number of attendances rose to 13,851 and waiting lists were slightly reduced. The majority of cases seen are developmental disorders of language or articulation which ultimately achieve normal standards. A small number are complex problems of neurological or psychological origin, in which the speech difficulty is part of a general developmental disorder. These cases require careful diagnosis, and are sometimes referred to other specialists also. The problem of the stammering child still remains a constant challenge. When this disturbance persists, it is usually maintained by environmental stresses of one kind or another, and any attempt to treat the symptom is frequently unavailing or even harmful. The service of the Speech Therapist, however, is valuable in supporting and encouraging the child and, where possible, preventing ignorant or unsuitable handling. Supervision of clinics and discussion of difficult cases, is carried out by the Senior Speech Therapist as far as possible, but this is already inadequate due to increase of numbers and more time will need to be made available for this purpose in the near future. It is hoped that additional time will be able to be provided during 1960. The Table appearing on p. 16 gives details of the work done at the various Speech Therapy Clinics in the County during 1959. TUBERCULOSIS. The number of school children notified as suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis decreased slightly—32 in 1958, to 29 in 1959. The non-pulmonary decreased too from 6 to 4. Approximately half the cases from non-pulmonary tuberculosis are considered to be of bovine origin and as the milk supply in the County has been pasteurised for the past few years, this decrease should continue. Although the pulmonary notifications remained at much the same level as in 1958, a proportion of the notifications related to children with only minor conditions of the chest, conditions which are now treated with anti-biotic drugs, but which hitherto would merely have been observed over the years and probably not notified. A number of this total too, were children who had been found to be positive to the skin test carried out during the B.C.G. campaign among the 13-year-old children in the schools and considered to require active treatment. Tn addition, 37 cases notified elsewhere (32 pulmonary and 5 non- pulmonary), came into the County. This figure showed an increase over 1958, when there were 21 23 pulmonary and 1 non-pulmonary—cases. Particular attention was paid to the notification of persons in schools, pupils, teachers, or other staff. Unless it was known that the infection came from outside the school and that the case was non-infectious or the Chest Physician was satisfied that the school children were unlikely to be affected, those in the class or the school were offered a skin test. Three schools were visited during the year, in two cases because of the notification of a teacher and the third a pupil. 880 children were tested and those who were positive to the test were referred to the Chest Clinics for any further action thought necessary. In the Junior School visited, very few were found to be positive, but two of these children have been retained under