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During the year the County Council approved the setting up of a scheme for training district
nurses, to be based at Chiswick Polytechnic.
The first course commenced on Monday, 17th September, 1962. Two home nurses working in
Willesden attended the course. They were subsequently successful in the examination and qualified for the
Ministry of Health's National Certificate in District Nursing.
SMALLPOX VACCINATION
Vaccinations are done by the staff at the health clinics and by general practitioners. The number of
children under one year of age vaccinated, represents 35% of the total live births for the year (Table 55).
IMMUNISATION
All children under one year are offered protection against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus,
and private doctors and assistant medical officers of health immunise them. Children usually receive reinforcing
doses just before they start school.
2,983 children completed a full course of primary immunisation, and 1,079 received a full reinforcing
injection.
INOCULATION AGAINST POLIOMYELITIS
In February, 1962, the Minister of Health announced the anticipated introduction of oral vaccine
for routine inoculation. The recommended course of this vaccine consisting of three doses of three drops
each, there being no reinforcing dose, was available at the clinics from 1st April. The reinforcing fourth
injections of Salk vaccine for children between five and 12 years, suspended in October, 1961, due to shortage
of vaccine, were resumed in April, 1962. One dose of oral vaccine could be used as an alternative to a
fourth injection of Salk and 1,459 persons received such doses.
Vaccination of persons in the priority groups continued. 8,236 completed a course of Salk vaccine
and 2,118 had a complete course of oral vaccine.
The demand from new cases was confined mainly to young babies, the inference being that the
majority of people within the priority groups had already been vaccinated against poliomyelitis.
HOME HELP SERVICE (Tables 56 and 57)
Applications for the service again increased in 1962, although the number of cases being helped at
the end of the year showed a slight drop.
Eleven tuberculosis cases were assisted and help was provided free of charge to five mothers suffering
from toxaemia of pregnancy.
Ninety-one bookings were taken for home confinements, but only 55 were helped, the remainder
making alternative arrangements.
There were 78 home helps at the end of the year; their rate of pay was increased to 3s. ll|d.
per hour. The charge to the public remained at 4s. 6d. per hour.
Three persons were enrolled as neighbourly helps under the County Council's new scheme. Two of
them were paid 15s. Od. weekly, and the third the maximum of £2 for assisting neighbours in small household
tasks.
The number of home visits made by the organisers was 4,484.
DAY NURSERIES (Tables 58-62)
The 390 approved places in the eight day nurseries, together with 30 places in York Park Day
Nursery, Hendon, have been filled throughout the year. There is still a considerable waiting list.
From 29th October, Chichester Road Day Nursery was closed and the children and staff transferred
to the William Dunbar Day Nursery, Albert Road, N.W.6, a new nursery incorporated in a block of flats
forming part of the South Kilburn Re-development Scheme.
Twelve students completed the 2 years' period of training for the N.N.E.B. Course; 10 passed the
examination and obtained the certificate.
Two staff nursery nurses attended a course at Chiswick Polytechnic in March and obtained the
Warden's Certificate.
Recruitment of suitable trained nursery staff remains difficult.