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Statistics
First home visits to children born in 1965 6,311
„ „ „ „ 1964 6,437
„ „ „ „ 1960/63 10,995
„ „ „ „ persons aged 65 years and over 431
mentally disordered persons 116
„ „ „ „ persons discharged from hospital (other than
mental hospital) 36
„ „ „ „ tuberculous households (other than by T.B.
visitor) 36
„ „ „ „ infectious households (other than tuberculous
households) 51
Miscellaneous visits 349
Total visits including first visits 76,841
Prophylaxis.
As pointed out earlier, there are few comparative statistics for previous years
and the vaccination and immunisation state can be referred to in general terms
only.
When persuasion replaced compulsion in 1948, there was for some years in
London a decrease in the acceptance rate of infant vaccination against smallpox:
this was followed by an increase. When in 1963 the age for vaccination was altered
to 18 months the rate again fell. The primary vaccinations in the London Borough
of Southwark for 1965 were 2,479: in view of the birth rate, estimated to have been
6,000 for the new area, the protection rate was not satisfactory. Arrangements were
made for protection against smallpox to be specially featured in future health
education programmes.
The former London County Council conducted a number of campaigns to
improve the rate of primary immunisation against diphtheria with the result that this
disease rarely occurs in London. There were no cases in the area of this borough
during the period under review. The protection rate indicated by the number of
completed courses was more satisfactory than in the case of smallpox but here again,
special action was considered essential and future campaigns were organised.
A factor affecting the recording of statistics is the exceptional movement of
families due not only to rehousing within the borough but also to movement in and
out of the area. This was shown by the number of medical records received from or
sent to other local health authorities: the total number of families involved was
approximately 2,850 (full year 3,700): no information was available to indicate the
total number of children.
It was immediately apparent that the new area contained many problem
families, families with problems and a great many parents resistant to health propaganda.
In addition, 25% of children were notified as being born "at risk". In these
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