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The remaining five were active cases of tuberculosis at the time of the survey and in
one other case an adult suffering from tuberculosis was discovered from the fact that
the result of a child's skin test was positive.
The Islington Mass X-ray Unit continued to be used throughout the year for
routine examination of teaching and other staff.
The hostel for tuberculous men is now well established at Cromwell Lodge, Highgate.
Most of the major works of improvement have been completed, and toward the end
of the year it was found possible, by re-allocating and adapting rooms, to provide a
dining room in the basement and thereby to increase the accommodation from 27 to
31 places.
Recuperative holidays were provided for 60 tuberculous persons (61 in 1954).
At the end of the year extra nourishment was being supplied, on the advice of the Chest
Physician, to 139 persons.
Health
education
Arrangements for the publication in the Islington Public Libraries Bulletin of
articles on health topics contributed by members of the staff have continued during
1955 to be a valuable means of health education, as have the presence in the tliree
borough libraries of books recommended by me as being of value to expectant mothers
and mothers of young children. Borrowing has been facilitated by the posting in the
welfare centres of a list of the recommended books with the library reference number
of each. Welfare centre activities included individual talks and discussion groups
conducted by health visitors, cookery demonstrations, sewing classes, film shows, etc.,
and 788 special educational sessions with 7,621 attendances were held (figures for the
previous record year of 1954 were 757 sessions with 6,640 attendances). Some centres
have parents' clubs which organise kindred and supplementary activities, and these
receive every encouragement. Divisional establishments and town halls (by permission
of the borough councils) have displayed posters and leaflets on seasonal topics, changed
monthly, and general practitioners have also co-operated by displaying propaganda
material, e.g. on prophylaxis.
Conclusion
Mr. N. B. Chapman has replaced Mr. Wilkes as Divisional Administrative Officer.
Miss E. M. Smith, Assistant Divisional Nursing Officer, retired at the end of January
after nearly 36 years' service with the Council, and was replaced by Miss M. V. Naunton.
Relations with voluntary and statutory organisations and their officers are, as ever,
most cordial, and I should like to express my thanks to them, to the Divisional Health
Committee and to the divisional staff for a further twelve months of courtesy, consideration
and loyal co-operation.
Division 4, comprising the boroughs of, Hackney, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington.
Dr. S. King reports :
Woodberry
Down Health
Centre
Further expansion of the service provided at Woodberry Down Health Centre
occurred during the year, the most important addition being the commencement of
physiotherapy for the patients of general practitioners in practice at or within a mile
radius of the centre. This service, restricted to two sessions weekly at the outset, is
under the supervision of a consultant in physical medicine.
It was agreed during the year to provide a pathological laboratory service at the
centre for these general practitioners.
The number of local health authority sessions held each week had increased to 153
by the end of the year, and these sessions attracted a weekly attendance of 1,463 persons.
Health education continues to take an important place in the work of the centre.
The occasional creche at the centre is open for nine sessions each week and, apart
from its primary purpose of relieving mothers temporarily of the care of their children,
is much used by mothers attending the centre, particularly the various health education
activities.
The original six general medical practitioners continue to practise at the centre and
one of them is chairman of the centre's medical staff committee which meets monthly.
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