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There were, however, six more voluntarily registered child-minders at the end of the
year than at the beginning, making a total of 100 taking 119 children, an increase of
25 children.
Home help
service
As in past years the number of families calling on the services of the home helps
continued to increase, 4,459 were served in 1956, against 4,092 in 1955. Once more
76 per cent. were aged, infirm or suffering from chronic illness. Four patients were
supplied with night help for a total of 7 nights. This service continued to make a valuable
contribution towards the prevention of break-up of families, under which heading
details are given.
Prevention of
break-up of
families
The unfortunate effects on children of separation from their famines is well known,
and every effort is made to prevent the break-up of families, even for short periods.
During the year, the use of the various health services has enabled 486 children to remain
at home during periods of temporary family difficulty, such as illness of the mother,
who would otherwise have had to go into residential homes. For 140 children this
was achieved by providing home help, either during the day or in the early morning
and evening. There were 89 children admitted to day nurseries, and in the remaining
257 cases the health visitors were able to suggest or make other arrangements, such as
the use of child-minders or neighbours.
In April four home helps were trained to give intensive help in home making to
families in danger of breaking up because of more serious difficulties. Six families,
with 29 children, subsequently received help and although progress was necessarily
slow, a definite improvement was apparent in most families by the end of the year.
The efforts of all persons interested in such problem families, both in this department
and in the Children's, Education and Welfare departments, together with probation
officers, housing officers, Family Service Units and many others, are co-ordinated by a
Committee which all attend as necessary, under the chairmanship of the Deputy
Divisional Medical Officer. Eleven such meetings were held during 1956 at which
15 families were discussed.
School
medical
treatment
As a general rule medical treatment is arranged at the school treatment centres
with little delay and the facilities available appear to be quite adequate. In the five
Hospitals (Paddington General Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, W.2, University College
Hospital, Hampstead General Hospital, and Whittington Hospital (Highgate Wing))
where special clinics are held for L.C.C. children, arrangements run smoothly and
there is very good co-operation between the Hospitals and ourselves.
Dental
treatment
During the year dental inspections have been held regularly in all parts of the
division. There are only very short waiting lists for treatment at the various centres.
Evening dental sessions are held where necessary for the older children and also for
expectant and nursing mothers.
Special
investigation
clinics
There has been an interesting development with regard to spccial investigation
clinics. An increasing number of cases are being referred to these clinics by the
Education Officer's Problem Cases Conference as it is realised that the doctor there is
able to discuss fully with the parents the problems connected with the child. In some
cases referral to a child guidance clinic may eventually be necessary but in other
cases the need does not arise.
Diphtheria
and whooping
cough
There was an increase in the number of children immunised against diphtheria
during the year. No less than 5,355 children were given primary immunisation, including
4,635 who received combined diphtheria/whooping cough immunisation, compared
with 5,077 and 3,779 last year; and 7,400 were given reinforcing doses, a noticeable
improvement on the figure of 5,662 for the previous year. Only 75 children received
immunisation against whooping cough alone, an indication of the popularity of combined
injections.
Smallpox
4,645 children (only 58 of whom were over 5 years of age) were vaccinated against
smallpox, a slight increase on the 4,390 vaccinated in the previous year.
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