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The demand for this service, particularly during the Summer months, was again
heavy and 931 holidays were provided. The total included 376 holidays for schoolchildren
and 140 for children under school age.
Recuperative
holidays
The home help service has continued to deal with a large and unabating demand.
Aged and infirm persons form the largest group of those needing help, though the
needs of tuberculous persons and cases of acute illness also make heavy and urgent
calls upon the service.
Domestic
help
Help was given in 2,548 households during the year. This number included
1,353 new cases.
The Northwold school treatment centre, established some years ago in two flats
on the Council's Northwold estate, was closed at the end of the year, the minor
ailment work being transferred to the nearby Upper Clapton welfare centre and the
dental and vision clinics being removed to the Hackney school treatment centre.
School
health
service
A consultation clinic to which children suffering from enuresis can be referred
was commenced at the Hoxton school treatment centre.
The special arrangements made to deal with the long waiting list of children
needing operative treatment of tonsils and adenoids, having achieved their purpose,
were replaced by a scheme under which children are referred to and, if necessary,
operated on at the Eastern Hospital.
Consideration was given each week to an average of 130 to 140 applications for
housing accommodation and appropriate recommendations as to priority on health
grounds were made.
Housing
Two of the three tuberculosis care committees serving the division participated
for the first time in the annual Christmas seals sale of the National Association for
the Prevention of Tuberculosis. The third committee has taken part in this fund.
raising effort for several years past. Thus all are now in receipt of an income from
this source which greatly assists their work for tuberculous persons and their
dependants.
After.care of
tuberculous
persons
The handicrafts class, run by the Hackney and Stoke Newington Tuberculosis
Care Committee has continued and serves a useful purpose despite the usual difficulty
of maintaining attendances at the desired level.
Grants of extra nourishment to tuberculous persons increased greatly in number
as a result of the relaxation of the Council's necessity scale and there has also been
a considerable increase in the number of loans of beds and bedding made to facilitate
home isolation.
Premises
Two welfare centres and a large day nursery were completely redecorated.
With the completion of the 1952 redecoration programme all health premises in the
division, for the maintenance of which the Council is responsible, will have been
repaired and redecorated in the period since July, 1948.
The house adjoining Barton House welfare centre has been acquired by the
Council and adapted for use as an annexe to the welfare centre, providing accommodation
for the foot clinic and for the Stoke Newington District Nursing Association who
will, in future, use the centre as their headquarters.
Conclusion
Various minor improvements to premises, such as the provision of tarmac play
space at two day nurseries, the provision or extension of perambulator shelters at
welfare centres and the provision of additional water.closets and hand basins at a
day nursery, have been made during the year.
I have pleasure in recording my appreciation of the helpful co.operation of the
Chairman and members of the Divisional Health Committee and of the Medical
Officers of Health of the Boroughs in the division. I am also grateful for the high
standard of work of the medical, nursing and administrative staff.