View report page

Medical
Staff
DIVISION 7, comprising the boroughs of Camberwell and Lewisham.
Dr. E. A. Mower-White reports :
For the first part of the period under report, the division was under the direction of
my predecessor, Dr. H. D. Chalke who in April, 1957, took up the full-time appointment
of Medical Officer of Health of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell.
On 1 August, 1957, Dr. A. L. Thrower was appointed as deputy divisional medical
officer.
The Camberwell chest clinic moved into new accommodation at St. Giles Hospital
Premises
Anniversary
In May, an Open Day was held at the Central Lewisham welfare centre, 410 High
Street, S.E.13, to commemorate the 21st Anniversary of the opening of the centre by
H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent on 7 May, 1936. The Vice-Chairman of the Divisional
Health Committee (Alderman Mrs. J. Burgess, J.P.) presided, supported by Alderman
Mrs. M. Smith of the Lewisham Borough Council and Dr. Murdoch MacGregor,
who represented the County Medical Officer of Health. Special tribute was paid to
the voluntary work done by the Catford School for Mothers, who had started child
welfare activities 37 years ago and had worked at the centre since it opened. About
100 guests attended.
Chiropody
The chiropody service was extended to the Camberwell area. The service is given
after consultation with the existing voluntary organisations providing foot clinics for
the aged at centres, so sited as to provide as full a coverage as possible.
Problem
families
The divisional co-ordinating committee meets regularly under my chairmanship,
and is attended by my deputy, the divisional nursing officer and the divisional treatment
organiser, the area children's officer, the district care organiser and the Family Welfare
Association secretary. Representatives of the N.S.P.C.C. and other interested public
bodies are invited as required, and the health visitor or other case worker who knows
the family is also in attendance.
General
activities
There has been no diminution in the provision of school medical treatment services
and the maternity and child welfare service. Small adjustments in sessions have been
made at some centres when justified by the increase or decrease of attendances. Further
progress has been attained in integrating health-visiting and school nursing duties and
the measures of co-operation with the general medical service, the hospital service and
the district nursing service have been maintained, embracing the health of the community
at every point in the lives of its members. Special attention has been given to
health education in all its aspects, which is controlled by a divisional field-worker panel
with a central health education room at the divisional office, where a variety of visual
aids are prepared and stored for distribution to centres.
Co-operation
with
hospitals
Two special discussions were arranged for the field-workers in the division, introduced
by specialists from the hospital service—Dr. William Dunham, the Council's
consultant for cerebral palsy, gave a talk illustrated by a film on the early recognition
of signs of cerebral palsy in a young child and Mrs. Collis showed a new film she had
made on the method and results of treatment of spastic children. Dr. B. Gans, paediatrician
of Lewisham hospital, opened a discussion on ' Methods of Infant Feeding '.
Each meeting was verv successful and well attended.
Care of
Aged
The care of the aged and chronic sick has been the subject of much consideration
and detailed case-work. There is close association in this with the borough medical
officers of health, the hospital geriatric services, family doctors and the nursing associations.
The health visiting and home help services have a special part in the work that is
done. 1 have been invited to serve on the Geriatric Sub-committee of the Lewisham
Hospital Group Medical Advisory Committee.
The award of a Testimonial on Parchment by the Royal Humane Society was made
to Mr. F. A. Hill, caretaker at Queen's Road Centre, for gallant conduct in saving a
a child from drowning in the swimming-bath at the centre.
Gallant
conduct
161