[Report 1974] / Medical Officer of Health, Guernsey.

  • Guernsey (Channel Islands). Council.
Date:
1974
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1974] / Medical Officer of Health, Guernsey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    46/60 (page 44)
    Mr. Neubert came to Guernsey in 1947 initially holding his clinic at Lukis House. He soon came to the conclusion that Guernsey needed its own Orthoptic Clinic and spoke of this to Mr. A. Winterfiood who was then the Secretary of the Education Committee. Mr. Winterfiood conveyed this recommendation to his Committee who agreed that one should be set up at La Porte under Mr. Neubert’s direction. It is interesting to reflect that Mrs. Goodwin was originally considered for the position of Orthoptist but who could not take it up for family reasons has now returned to work and is carrying out hearing and vision testing for the School Medical Services. Mrs. Edwards who was appointed Orthoptist in 1947 is still running the clinic. We extend a warm welcome to Dr. and Mrs. Robin Bonner-Morgan, who are both ophthalmic specialists, and hope that they and their family will long remain happily settled here. This year-1974-has seen the beginnings of a free physiotherapy advisory service for both pre- and school-aged children. Up to this moment in time, six physically handicapped pre-school children are being visited regularly by the physiotherapist in their homes and all children in our Special Schools have been assessed by her and suitable remedial exercises prescribed for those in need. The children with orthopaedic problems seen at routine school medicals have been offered appoint- ments at Lukis House and they are assessed and advised by the physiotherapist. The overall school population in Guernsey in 1974 was 9,609—an increase of 188 as compared with 1973. It is with pleasure that one can report that the state of the health of the school child is very good. Speaking broadly, the main troubles of the school entrant are connected with eyes, ear/nose/throat and ‘ chestiness ’, and at the junior school stage most of these problems have been ironed out so efficiently that the parent can only recall the past symptoms with difficulty. The potential school leaver at between 14 and 15 years of age is a healthy individual indeed, with the girl almost at her maximum height and the boy starting to over- take her in height and weight. Both are beset by the bogey of teenage-isms. They are troubled mainly with emotional rather than health problems. They are half child, half adult, and look forward to the future eagerly yet apprehensively. They still need firm discipline, love and guidance by example as they did from the age of two. 1974 1973 996 attendances recorded at the Lukis House Clinic 952 314 attendances recorded at the Child Guidance Clinic 300 41 attendances at Mr. Midgley’s Clinic (E.N.T.) 48 1933 attendances recorded at Speech Therapy Clinic 1642 2300 attendances recorded at the Orthoptic Clinic 2012 491 attendances recorded at the Immunisation Clinic 82 150 attendances recorded at the B.C.G. Clinic 248 6225 5284 In addition 2,376 school children were examined at a periodic medical exam- ination (1,664 at their schools and 712 in Lukis House) and 357 girls were vaccin- ated against German Measles in their schools.