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DIVISION 8, comprising the boroughs of Bermondsey, Lambeth and
Southwark.
Dr. W. H. S. Wallace reports :
The statistical returns for the year on the whole show little change from those of
1956. Attendances at clinics have been well maintained and there has been some increase
in the attendances at the Council's ante-natal clinics.
Immunisation
The statistics show a slight drop in the number or children immunised against
diphtheria. On analysis this is accounted for by a drop in the number of school children
immunised. This was mainly due to the widespread epidemic of influenza in the autumn
term, which seriously hampered the work of diphtheria immunisation in the schools.
The number of primary immunisations of children under one year was fully maintained.
3,645 were immunised in 1957, compared with 3,650 in 1956. The work of B.C.G.
inoculation of 13-year-old school children continued during the year. As in previous
years, about 70 per cent. of the parents of eligible children consented to B.C.G. inoculation.
Inoculations against poliomyelitis continued throughout the year. 10,795 children
had complete inoculation. The limiting factor was the amount of vaccine available.
At the end of the year there were still 4,376 children registered for inoculation for whom
vaccine was not available.
Day
nurseries
The demand for day nursery accommodation fell considerably during the year.
The average daily attendance at day nurseries in the Division was 699, compared with
814 in 1956. This decrease has not been balanced by any marked increase in the number
of children in the care of child-minders. The number of children with child-minders
was 117, compared with 97 in 1956. It would appear that fewer mothers now go out
to work.
School
health
service
The widespread epidemic of influenza affected all the schools in the division. For
several weeks during the autumn term 40 per cent. of the children in many schools
were absent. Apart from this the health of the school children has been well maintained.
At the special investigation sessions the number of new cases dropped from 79 cases
in 1956 to 49 cases in 1957. The attendances at minor ailment clinics has continued to
decline. The total attendances were 3,979 in 1957, compared with 5,102 in 1956. While
this reflects a diminution in the number of minor ailments in school children, the fall
may be partly due to their obtaining treatment elsewhere than at minor ailment clinics,
e.g., to an increased extent from private doctors. One of the most interesting items is
the virtual disappearance of chronic ear conditions, since these are now curable by the
use of modern anti-biotics. The number of children referred for examination for glasses
has also dropped—3,359 in 1957, compared with 4,383 in 1956. This is probably due
to the fact that the ' bulge' in the school population has now gone into the secondary
schools and practically all children who require glasses nowadays are supplied with
them before they reach secondary school. Enuresis is still a matter of some concern
among school children and there is still an increase in the number referred for treatment.
The electric bell apparatus has so far proved the most successful treatment for enuresis
but it is obviously not the whole answer to the problem, as it can only be used in selected
cases.
Co-ordinating
committees
The work of the co-ordinating committee on problem families has increased considerably
and 41 case conferences have been called during the year. Work for the problem
families is often difficult and disheartening, as so many of the parents are handicapped
by low mentality and immaturity. The committee has proved its value in ensuring the
most effective use of the various services available in helping those families whose need
is greatest. The provision of housing accommodation for problem families in need of
re-housing has, although the number has been small, been a most valuable aid to the
families concerned.
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