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Division 2, comprising the boroughs of Hampstead, Paddington, St. Marylebone,
St. Pancras and Westminster.
Dr. H. L. Oldershaw reports:—
Premises. — The question of accommodation for health service establishments
has caused some concern, and a large number of sites and buildings have been
investigated as to their suitability for use as day nurseries or maternity and child
welfare centres.
It is hoped that substantial improvement in security of tenure will result from
the purchase, or negotiation of long leases, in respect of 10 day nurseries and two
maternity and child welfare centres formerly held on requisition or short term
lease.
During the year it was necessary to relinquish the tenancy of one part-time
welfare centre in Paddington.
In Hampstead a new maternity and child welfare centre was opened in a
temporary prefabricated building, and the attendances since opening have been
highly satisfactory.
School Health Service.—The work of medical inspection in the 113 schools in
this Division proceeded smoothly during 1949. During the latter part of the year a
special " drive " was instituted to raise the general level of immunity against
diphtheria among the primary school population of 44,120 by means of " boosting "
doses of antigen. More than four thousand children were inoculated in the course
of this " drive," while during the year a rather larger number was inoculated at
the ordinary medical inspection sessions, giving a total of between eight and nine
thousand in all.
The number of Vision Clinics has been increased, but there is still too long a
delay in the provision of spectacles. An additional Nutrition Clinic has been
opened. A special Ear Clinic has been transferred to the Throat, Nose and Ear
Hospital, and the re-arrangement is proving satisfactory.
Maternity and Child Welfare. — The 54 Health Visitors engaged in the Division
made a total of 120,490 home visits. The success of this section of the personal
health service depends on the work of the Health Visitor, and the importance of
these home visits cannot be over-estimated.
There has been an increase of 11 maternity and child welfare sessions a week
(62 in 1948, 73 in 1949).
Although there are 1,398 places in the Day Nurseries, there is still a waiting
list of over 2,000 priority applications.
The Divisional Committee approved the registration of 9 child-minders caring
for 78 children, and of 9 private nurseries providing 274 places.
Holiday Homes. — No less than 1,739 applications were received for
recuperative holidays for adults, expectant mothers, nursing mothers and children.
Owing to the lack of suitable holiday homes, most patients for whom applications
were made during the summer and autumn had to wait up to three months for a
vacancy.
Conclusion.—I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all my
colleagues in the Division who throughout the year have given of their best to
ensure an ever increasing and improving Personal Health Service.
Division 3, comprising the boroughs of Finsbury, Holborn and Islington.
Dr. A. B. Stewart reports:—
During 1949 the Division had 12 day nurseries, with places for 651 children
and six main and five branch maternity and child welfare centres. In addition,