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54
Therefore percentage of children immunised according to the Department of Health and Social Security's
statistics will be:—
103 x 100 = 73%
141
However, 34 other children were immunised privately and therefore no notifications of these will have
been sent to the Department of Health, so the true immunisation figure for the area is:—
(103+34) x 100 =97%
141
In another centre out of 74 immunised children born in the period 1st July 1969 to 30th June 1970, the
health visitor reports that there are no EC73 forms for 24 children whose parents attend private doctors
and therefore are presumably immunised by them.
There are other centres in Westminster with similar areas to the two mentioned above, which again
shows that the true immunisation figure is much higher than that given by the Department of Health.
In September 1970 all health visitors in Westminster were asked to forward the number of children living
in their area born between 1st July 1969 and 30th June 1970, and the number of these children who had
completed their primary immunisation. In this survey 82% of the children were reported as immunised.
The conclusions reached by these four surveys point to the fact that the true immunisation rate for the
City of Westminster appears to be at least 20% higher than that given by the Department of Health.
CRECHES
Creches are held in 9 of the City's child health centres, 37 sessions each week catering for 210 children.
In some of these the purpose is to mind children while their mothers attend clinics or classes. Many of the
sessions however have a more positive role — they are designed as observation and treatment nurseries.
Children who are understimulated at home or who for any other reasons are failing to make satisfactory
progress are recommended for admission by doctors or health visitors. For children living under adverse
environmental conditions this not only provides an opportunity for the expansion of social experience, but
also gives them training in social and other skills which are essential before entering school.
MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC
The Health Department took delivery of the newly built Mobile Health Clinic in November 1971.
Pending the recruitment of a driver/attendant in the new year, it was used for extra chiropody sessions
when parked at the rear of Harrow Road Centre W.9.
Discussions are currently being held on the first planned venues for clinic sessions; they are in the Maida
Vale and Covent Garden/Drury Lane areas.
Members of the Health Committee viewed the mobile clinic at City Hall at their meeting on 27th March
1972.
NURSING HOMES
Ten nursing homes are registered with the City of Westminster, all of which take medical patients; 6 also
take surgical patients, 3 take maternity patients and one is registered under Part 3 of the Mental Health Act
1959 to take patients suffering from mental illnesses. Three of the homes are non-profit making.
Under Section 1 of the Abortion Act 1967, six of the ten registered nursing homes applied to and were
approved by the Department of Health and Social Security to take patients for treatment for the
termination of pregnancy.