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Tuberculosis
The B.C.G. unit operating north of the Thames visited the division in the early
summer and carried out B.C.G. vaccination of the 13-year-old children in 36 schools.
Of parents asked to consent to B.C.G. vaccination of their children 69.6 per cent. did so.
The Islington Mass X-ray unit, which has been stationed at the rear of the maternity
and child welfare centre at Drayton Park, Islington, continued to be used throughout
the year for routine examination of teaching and other staff. One case of tuberculosis
occurred among the teaching staff of an evening college for adults. An epidemiological
investigation was made in the course of which the remainder of the staff were X-rayed
but no abnormalities were found. It was not practicable to follow up all the students
concerned.
The diversional therapy scheme for home-bound tuberculous patients, which started
in the latter part of 1955, became well established during 1956. In Islington, two wholetime
occupational therapists are now employed, and a further two sessions weekly
have been found sufficient for patients' needs in the rest of the division. Grants amounting
to £187 were paid during 1956 for the purchase of materials and equipment for the
scheme, and at the end of the year 38 persons were benefiting from the service.
Recuperative holidays were provided for 64 tuberculous persons in 1956—four more
than in the preceding year—and at the end of December extra nourishment was being
supplied, on the advice of the chest physician, to 144 persons.
The accommodation at the hostel for tuberculous men at Cromwell Lodge was
temporarily reduced to 24 during a part of the year to permit interior redecorations to
be carried out. During the year 26 men were admitted and 27 left, 26 remaining in
residence at the end of the year.
Islington
Centenary
Exhibition
The Islington Borough Council invited the Council to participate in an exhibition
organised to commemorate the centenary of the appointment of the first Medical
Officer of Health of that Borough. Exhibits illustrating the history of the services for
maternal and child care, care of the elderly and control of infectious diseases were shown
jointly by the Borough Council and this Council with other agencies, whilst this
Council was solely responsible for the provision of exhibits on the history of the midwifery,
school health and ambulance services. Very generous assistance was given by
the Royal College of Midwives in presenting the display dealing with midwifery.
Conclusion
Our relations with the statutory and voluntary bodies in the division have continued
to be marked by the greatest cordiality. To their officers, to the members of the
Divisional Health Committee, and to the divisional staff I wish to express my thanks
for their assistance, guidance and co-operation which have resulted in a fruitful year's
work.
Division 4, comprising the boroughs of Hackney, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington.
Dr. S. King reports:
Woodberry
Down
health centre
The services provided at the Health Centre continue to develop, notable additions
during the year being the provision of a pathological laboratory service (two sessions
weekly) and an increase from two to four in the weekly physiotherapy sessions for
general practitioners' patients. These services are available to general practitioners
working in the centre and to those practising within a mile radius of it. Towards the
end of the year a class for auditory training of young deaf children (four sessions a week)
also commenced.
The total number of sessions held each week had increased to 222 by the end of the
year, with a weekly attendance of 2,297 persons. Of these, 47 were general medical
sessions (average attendance 437) and 11 were general dental sessions (average attendance
94).
The occasional creche was open for nine sessions a week and, apart from its primary
purpose of relieving mothers temporarily of the care of their children, was much used
by mothers attending the centre; there was an appreciable increase in average weekly
attendances this year.
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