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125
Division 6, comprising the boroughs of Deptford, Greenwich and Woolwich.
Dr. F. R. Waldron reports:—
The year saw many advances, in the main within existing resources; none of
exceptional note but none insignificant.
Administration
Administration was furthered by the establishment of a case index giving
reference to social background information from many sources, e.g., child welfare,
school health, preferential housing and the home help service.
Preferential
housing
In September 1950 responsibility was delegated to the division for advising on
applications received for preferential rehousing by the Council on health grounds.
In handling nearly 3,000 applications during 1951 the division's intimate contacts
with the health departments of the three Borough Councils have proved a great asset.
Maternity
and child
welfare
Ante.natal sessions taken by medical officers were in more instances made
concurrent with booking sessions established for domiciliary midwives in the Council's
centres, thereby promoting convenient reference of patients where necessary.
Ante.natal exercise classes for selected expectant mothers were introduced at
two additional centres. Four additional exercise classes for children were started.
These developments were made possible, and existing services maintained, by utilising
the time of physiotherapists hitherto engaged at the Health Centre, Market Street,
Woolwich on the treatment of adults, which work the Council has no power to undertake
and which has finally been absorbed by hospitals in the area.
Seven staff are carrying out each in a given district the duties both of a health
visitor and school nursing sister ; the advantages of this combined service are
already apparent.
Health
risiting
Coniey street Day Nursery was closed owing to insufficient demand from
parents in priority categories. The number of children looked after by minders
registered under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act and by minders
voluntarily registered under the Council's own scheme increased during the year
from 181 to 218. The figure at 31st December, 1948, was 25 only.
Day
nurseries
and child.
minders
Children seen at school medical inspections and at child welfare centres some.
times need more thorough examination than is possible in the time available and,
where symptoms are sufficiently defined, the children can be referred to hospital or
to specialist clinics, e.g., for rheumatic or ear nose and throat conditions. There
are other children however, who are prone to bed wetting, minor behaviour problems,
e.g., tantrums, or to difficulty in sleeping or eating. If passed over, the children may
later present a stubborn problem for a hospital enuresis clinic or for a child guidance
clinic. For these reasons a weekly consultative clinic to which children can be
referred in the early stages of trouble was established at Chevening Road Centre,
Greenwich.
School
health
service
In order to tree school accommodation tor educational purposes, a minor
ailments treatment centre for school children was opened in an adapted medical
relief station in Ormiston Road, Greenwich. The minor ailments clinic at Rusthall
Lodge Centre, Eltham, situated in a developing area, was increased from half.time
to whole.time.
After.care
Recuperative holidays,were provided for 364 children and 199 adults.
A book.binding class was started at Deptford Chest Clinic, making six diversional
therapy classes in the division for tuberculous patients.
The number of persons provided with home help service again increased. On
31st December, 1950 they numbered 1,200 but a year later 1,450 were being aided.
This figure represents nearly five times as many households as were being attended
on 5th July, 1948.
Home
help
service
Another service which has continued to expand is chiropody. The facilities
have been so re.grouped and re.organised that, by the provision of clerical assistance
but without adding to the number of chiropodists, the treatments given have
increased from 24,000 in the last six months of 1948 to 70,000 in 1951. The percentage
Chiropody
J