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REPORTS BY THE DIVISIONAL MEDICAL OFFICERS
DIVISION I—Comprising the boroughs of Chelsea, Fulham, Hammersmith
and Kensington
Dr. B. E. A. Sharpe reports :
Vital
statistics
The increase in the birth rate reported in 1956 was not maintained. Total births
numbered 7,231, almost 5 per cent. less than the previous year, and domiciliary confinements
were 10 per cent. lower. Deaths of infants under five years of age numbered 196,
an increase of 19 on the previous year.
Welfare of
mothers and
children
Despite the fall in the birth rate, attendances at ante-natal sessions increased by
1,203 to 15,973, and attendances at child welfare sessions increased by 2,933 to 89,330.
Health visitors made 94,837 visits, an increase of 3,842.
Home
advice
groups
The mothercraft and home-making courses for selected mothers arranged by the
Florence Gladstone and the Hammersmith Home Advice Groups were continued, the
Council paying the fees of the instructors and also agreeing to make a small contribution
towards incidental expenses, such as demonstration material, stationery and postage.
Health
education
An active part was taken by health visitors, midwives, district nurses, general
practitioners, hospitals, old people's welfare associations and metropolitan boroughs,
in the Council's Home Safety Campaign in November.
Day
Nurseries
Early in the year a review of day nursery accommodation, admissions, attendance
and waiting lists was undertaken. It was decided to reduce accommodation, mainly in
the 2-5 age group, at Cheyne Hospital, Dalling Road, Eridge House and Grove House
day nurseries, and to adjust accommodation at several other nurseries to provide more
places for babies. Greater flexibility between the age groups was also introduced. The
average daily attendance improved to a considerable extent during the latter part of
the year except for certain periods at some day nurseries where there were outbreaks of
Sonne dysentery.
The number of approved places at the end of the year was 673 compared with 728
in the previous year.
Childminders
and
private day
nurseries
The number of statutorily registered child-minders was unchanged, but the number
of children minded dropped to 132, a decrease of 36. The number of voluntarily
registered child-minders fell by 6 to 173, and the number of children minded by 5
to 208. One additional private day nursery was registered and the number of children
provided for in private day nurseries rose by 45 to 455.
Vaccination
and
immunisation
There was an increase in the number of children protected against smallpox and
diphtheria.
Inoculation against poliomyelitis for children born in the years 1947 to 1956,
inclusive, continued and 231 sessions were held for this purpose. In all, 10,438 children
were inoculated, of whom 1,461 were inoculated by their private doctors.
Home help
service
4,609 households were attended during the year and in spite of staff sickness and
difficulties in recruitment, all essential needs were met, although in some cases, the hours
of service were less than would normally have been given.
Home helps specially trained to instruct the mother in all aspects of home management
and child care were supplied to eight families. Early morning and evening home
help was provided on 22 occasions and a night help in five cases.
During the last quarter of the year, as a result of the recommendation of a working
party on the home help service, a revised records procedure designed to provide
accurate detailed statistics and to reduce the amount of clerical work performed by
organisers so as to free them for more home visiting, was introduced into the division
as an experiment.
Home
nursing
Chiropody
242,214 visits were made by district nurses, 3,731 more than in 1956.
The four foot clinics continued to provide a valuable and popular service, particularly
among the aged. Total attendances numbered 19,353.
151