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68
The time of the social workers (health services) is divided between
two main functions : —
(i) Intensive case work.—During 1966, support has been given
to 19 families and seven new cases were taken on during the
autumn. One case was closed as the parents refused all advice
and two families have left the area. The problem families, which
are referred to previously in relation to the work of the Case
Committee, fall into two broad categories. Firstly, there are the
families where the parents are chronically inadequate to fulfil their
accepted role ; the number of children in these families varies from
three to twelve. The father may be unemployed and/or violent
towards his wife. The mother is often unable to give the children
much beyond their physical needs. Families such as these will
need the support of social workers in some form at least until the
children have left school and particularly during the children's
adolescent years when there is a risk of delinquency and poor
school attendance. Secondly, there are the families where one or
both parents appear to be bordering on mental illness; in such
cases the children are usually better cared for but the parents'
emotional problems and marital difficulties are more intangible
and can have a very disturbing effect on the children.
(ii) School treatment centres.—Attendances at ear, nose and
throat clinics have been falling and the number of sessions has
consequently been reduced. The special investigation clinics dealing
with enuresis, behaviour problems and obesity have increased
particularly in the Tooting area where many of the new cases are
immigrant families living in overcrowded conditions. Since May,
1966, a monthly audiology session has been held at Stormont
Centre to serve the Battersea children and this, as well as the
sessions at Wandsworth and Tooting School Treatment Centres,
has been well attended.
Chest Clinics
There are in the Borough three Chest Clinics, namely, the Wandsworth
Chest Clinic situated in the Municipal Buildings, the
Battersea Chest Clinic at St. John's Hospital and the Balham Chest
Clinic at St. James' Hospital. The Wandsworth and Battersea
Chest Clinics draw their patients mainly from the Borough but
the Balham Chest Clinic draws patients also from the adjoining
London Borough of Lambeth.
Statistics relating to tuberculosis will be found on pages 15 and 16.
It is never easy to differentiate between the prevention and
treatment of an illness and this is particularly so in the case of
tuberculosis. Close liaison, therefore, is necessary between the
Chest Clinics and the staff of the Health Department and I am
happy to state that this exists. Meetings are held from time to
time between the three Chest Physicians and the Health