View report page

4
priorities to be offered to a new third priority group (on payment of supplementary
charges), are discussed on page 60.
A special feature of this Report is the section relating to the work of the Chemical
Branch which was prepared by the Chemist-in-Chief, Mr. C. J. Regan. This section,
which gives a full account of the historical and other major developments in the use of
chemistry and allied sciences in the service of the population of London from 1869
to the present day, will be found on pages 28 to 48.
The number of domiciliary confinements, which has been declining since 1948, again
fell from 11,026 in 1952 to 10,472. The large increase in the use of analgesia by midwives
is referred to on page 65.
The demand on the services of the District Nursing Associations, which carry out
home nursing on behalf of the Council, continues to increase. Over 1,700,000 visits were
paid during 1953. 44 per cent. of all those whose treatments were completed during the
year were over 60 years of age and the average case load of a nurse at any one time was
over 22.
The domestic help service was expanded still further ; over 30,000 persons were
assisted (75 per cent. of whom were aged and chronic sick) and nearly 3,000 full-time
and part-time home helps were employed at the end of the year. Two new extensions
to the scheme relating to the provision of night helps and child helps were introduced,
details of which will be found on page 77.
Although the number of confirmed cases of diphtheria (11) reached the lowest on
record in 1953, the number of primary immunisations again fell and the annual total
was less than two-thirds of what it was in 1949 (page 78). This situation, regrettable
though it is, must be regarded as a challenge for redoubling the efforts to bring about
a higher state of immunity amongst the child population.
The vaccination of children under one year of age showed further improvement
and over 24,000 such children were vaccinated in 1953, which represents 48 per cent.
of the total live births.
The considerable decline in the number of verminous pupils in recent years made it
possible in 1953 to introduce a revised approach to this problem with a view to securing
an even more rapid decline in the incidence of uncleanliness. The scheme, which
involves a more intensive investigation by the health visitor at the level of the family, is
referred to in more detail on page 105.
The large increase in the number of dental inspections in schools is referred to on
page 123. The percentage of school-children who were found to require treatment was
63.8. There was an appreciable increase in dental treatment given to the priority groups.
(Tables II, V and VI, pages 125-127.) The application of sodium fluoride and the use of
dental hygienists are referred to on page 127.
The provision of new premises at the rate considered necessary to overcome the
difficulties inherent in maintaining some of the health services in improvised accommodation
in church halls and rented and requisitioned premises continues to give rise
to concern by the Council. These difficulties and the possibility of an increase in the
annual sum allowed for capital expenditure have been discussed on more than one
occasion with the Ministry of Health.
The work of providing domiciliary care and after-care for persons suffering from
psychiatric disabilities carried out on behalf of the Council by the National Association
for Mental Health and the Mental After-Care Association, and the placing of unaccompanied
children in recuperative holiday homes by the Invalid Children's Aid
Association was taken over by the Department during the year and I place on record
my appreciation of the valuable service rendered by these Associations.
In view of the need to reduce administrative work and to economise in staff, and
bearing in mind the satisfactory arrangements for tuberculosis care work at each chest
clinic, it was decided that Divisional Tuberculosis Care Committees, which were set up
in 1949 for the co-ordination of tuberculosis care work, should be discontinued.