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Chiropody
77 chiropody sessions are held in the division each week and a satisfactory level of
attendance is maintained. A chiropody session for elderly persons run by the Stoke
Newington Old People's Welfare Committee was held at Woodberry Down health
centre on Saturday mornings.
Prophylaxis
During the year 3,583 children completed a primary course of immunisation against
diphtheria and 4,625 received reinforcing injections, while 2,979 children were
immunised against whooping cough. The number of persons vaccinated against smallpox
was 5,252 as compared with 2,433 in 1956. This considerable increase in the number of
vaccinations was due to the large number carried out in July when a case of smallpox
was notified in an adjoining area. The scheme for immunisation against poliomyelitis
developed rapidly during 1957 and inoculations were carried out throughout the year,
6,142 receiving the full course of two injections and 1,145 the first injection only during
the year.
During 1956 all thirteen year old school children in the division were offered B.C.G.
vaccination and positive reactors to the skin test (304) were given appointments for a
chest X-ray.
The scheme for providing diversional therapy for homebound tuberculous patients
continued and early indications that this was a welcome and useful addition to the
tuberculosis service have been confirmed.
Diversional
therapy for
the
tuberculous
Premises
DIVISION 5, comprising the boroughs of Bethnal Green, Poplar, Stepney and
the City of London.
Dr. G. D. Mitchell reports :
Responsibility for the Dame Colet welfare centre, Duckett Street, Stepney, the only
maternity and child welfare centre in the division which was administered by a voluntary
committee, was taken over by the Council during the year. It is intended ultimately
to transfer the sessions from Duckett Street to premises at 35, Stepney Green. The High
Mistress, staff, pupils and former pupils of St. Paul's Girls School have maintained an
active interest in the social work of this locality for half a century, and their association
with this work will be continued from their new centre in Ben Jonson Road. Although
relinquishing their maternity and child welfare activities, a Dame Colet Voluntary
Committee will continue to administer the school treatment centre in Waley Street.
Sessions
Bathing
centres
During the year a relaxation class for expectant mothers was started at the Commercial
Road centre, an extra infant welfare session was added at the Rochelle centre
and a toddlers' session was started at the Duckett Street centre. These were the onl\
variations to arise from the periodic reviews of clinic activities.
The appreciable fall in the number of children attending for treatment made it
possible to close the bathing centre in Golden Lane in the City of London at the end of
the summer term and to reduce slightly the hours of the bathing attendants and cleaners
at two of the remaining three bathing centres in the division.
Immunisation
Although the number of vaccinations against smallpox showed a moderate increase
in 1957, it is regrettable that vaccination figures continue to remain low in the division
In spite of the continued efforts of the health visitors, clinic doctors and general practitioners,
nothing short of a threatened outbreak of smallpox seems to be really effective,
and even this results only in a temporary increase in the number of vaccinations during
the period of public apprehension. Owing to the comparatively light incidence of
poliomyelitis in the division during the year it was not found necessary to curtail the
routine work of immunisation against diphtheria and whooping cough.
Inoculation against poliomyelitis continued so far as the short supply of vaccint
allowed, and during the year 11,496 injections were given to registered children of the
appropriate age groups.
Towards the end of the year, a small supply of vaccine against Asian 'flu became
available, and volunteers from priority groups of staff (health visitors, clinic nurses
home helps, district nurses and ambulance staff) were accordingly vaccinated.
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