View report page

CO-OPERATION WITH CHILDREN' S AND WELFARE DEPARTMENTS
Residential establishments under the control of the Children's Committee are visited by
a Senior Medical Officer. These visits provide the housemothers with an opportunity of
discussing any problems relating to individual children. Informal advice on hygiene, the safe
keeping of medicines and drugs, and general standards of care is given. Children who are
handicapped or are at risk of developing a handicap are followed up closely. Reports of visits
are passed to the Children's Officer for his consideration. 59 such visits were made during
1968.
The Children's Officer seeks the assistance of this Department in his preliminary
enquiries about residents of Islington, who have applied to foster or adopt a child. In each
case the health visitor is asked if the family is known to her and, if so, to submit a report.
Homes for the elderly which are under the control of the Welfare Committee are visited
by a Principal Medical Officer who inspects the hygiene arrangements and the general facilities
for the well being of the residents. 7 such visits were paid during 1968.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE ARRANGEMENTS
The Council continued to make use of the Admissions and Doctors Inquiry Service (also
used by the London Boroughs of Camden and Haringey) operating from the Whittington Hospital
for taking and passing on emergency calls outside office hours for the Council's health
services. Details of the calls dealt with are as follows (figures for 1967 in brackets).
Domiciliary midwifery 414 (540)
Mental Health 468 (472)
Home Nursing 309 (249)
Infectious Disease 4 ( 4)
Other 44 ( 23)
1,239 (1,288)
Midwives and mental health social workers were able to make use of special hired car
facilities at night and at weekends.
7