View report page

proved necessary. Had many more cases developed it would no longer have been
possible to proceed with this home vaccination policy and plans were made to deal
with this contingency but no further cases of smallpox occurred and the demand for
vaccination from non-contacts, although significantly higher than usual for a short
period, was within the capacity of the routine vaccination sessions at welfare centres.
Influenza
In view of the approach of Asiatic influenza ' first from the Continent and then
from the North of England, heads of all schools in the division were asked on 23 August,
1957, to report as soon as they noticed any unusual number of absences amongst
children.
The schools reopened after the summer holidays on 2 September, 1957, and first
reports of significant absences were received from two infants schools on 9 September,
1957. Enquiry by school nursing sisters showed that an influenzal condition was in fact
developing throughout the division and the spread was rapid. During the week ended
14 October, 1957, 51 departments reported total absences of 7,099 children out of a
roll of 40,037, with 124 teachers absent out of a complement of 1,466.
Immunisation
When the schools resumed in January, absences had reverted to levels normal at
that time of the year. Influenza vaccine was issued by the Ministry of Health in October,
November and December and made available to doctors and other health personnel
concerned with the visiting of homes.
Diphtheria
immunisation
Efforts have been continued to maintain the immunisation state of school children
by conducting diphtheria immunisation sessions in the schools. The response has been
gratifying but the poliomyelitis and B.C.G. programmes constituted further complicating
factors. There was a possibility that children might inadvertently receive injections
against several conditions without appropriate intervals and it was decided as a precaution
to inform all parents in writing one week before children were to be immunised at
school. Parents were asked to state whether their children had received any other
injection, or had suffered from any illness within the four preceding weeks, and, if so,
they were invited preferably to call and see the doctor undertaking the immunisation
or alternatively to send information in writing.
The results of these letters received during one week were analysed and it was found
that 8.1 per cent. of the children called up for diphtheria immunisation at school had
to have their injections cancelled for the reasons stated.
At the end of the year, out of the 6,000 children for whom consent forms had been
received, 392 had completed primary courses of injections, and 4,857 had received
booster doses. The remaining consents were withdrawn or immunisation postponed.
This completed the intensive immunisation programme for 62 schools, leaving 20 more
schools to be approached for the circulation of consent forms in the beginning of the
next vear.
Mental
health
education
Early in 1956 case conference groups had been arranged to provide intensive training
for a limited number of medical officers and health visitors, so that individual mental
health education casework could be undertaken at maternity and child welfare clinics.
The work of this group was interrupted largely owing to ill-health and to transfer of
some members and by the beginning of 1957 the scheme had fallen into abeyance.
Previous experience showed that important for the success of such a group was
that it should be conducted at a place and time fully convenient and acceptable to all
members and that the group should be based on the staff of one child welfare centre.
Fortunately Dr. Kenneth Soddy agreed to lead a group and it commenced weekly
lunch time meetings in November, 1957. The group consisted of the centre doctor,
centre superintendent and health visitors. Colleagues of Dr. Soddy from the Child
Guidance Training Centre often attend with him.
Foot clinics
In order to allocate foot clinic sessions more evenly, two chiropodist sessions a
week were transferred from the main foot-clinic at Finsbury health centre to the
Province of Natal centre, Holborn. The service is now available at three centres in the
Division : Finsbury health centre, Finsbury ; East Islington welfare centre ; and the
Province of Natal centre, Holborn. In a very small number of extremely handicapped
155