View report page

has resulted and deterioration has been arrested in others, but further experience is
necessary, particularly in the more difficult cases, before the permanence of these results
can be assessed.
Handicapped
children
A physiotherapist from the London Hospital continued to attend daily to tend the
physically handicapped children attending the Geffrye primary school.
Chiropody
Seventy-seven chiropody sessions are held in the division each week and a satisfactory
level of attendance is maintained. A chiropody session for elderly persons is run by the
Stoke Newington Old People's Welfare Committee at Woodberry Down health centre
on Saturday mornings and at Barton House welfare centre on Monday mornings.
Prophylaxis
During the year 3,559 children completed a primary course of immunisation
against diphtheria and 5,084 received re-inforcing injections, while 2,983 were immunised
against whooping cough and 1,227 against tetanus. The number of persons vaccinated
against smallpox was 3,221. The scheme for immunisation against poliomyelitis was
extended during 1958 to cover a larger age range. 22,355 cases completed a course of
two injections and 3,679 were given a third (booster) injection. At the end of the year
1,894 had received one injection.
During 1958 all 13-year-old schoolchildren in the division were offered B.C.G.
vaccination and positive reactors to the skin test (236) were given appointments for
a chest X-ray.
DIVISION 5, comprising the boroughs of Bethnal Green, Poplar, Stepney and
the City of London.
Dr. G. O. Mitchell reports:
Premises
In September, 1958, the maternity and child welfare activities which had been
carried on in premises at 39 Duckett Street were transferred to the Council's premises
at 35 Stepney Green.
Chiropody
During the latter part of the year two additional chiropody sessions were held each
week, bringing the total weekly number of chiropody sessions to six.
Quadruplets
Special arrangements were necessary to assist with the home care of quadruplets
born in the East End Maternity hospital on 14 December, 1957. The mother and
children were sent home in January, 1958, and since that date both home help and
nursing assistance have been given. On their discharge a nurse was seconded from the
hospital for four weeks day duty, while a deputy matron from one of our day nurseries
carried out night duty, transferring to day duty at the end of February when it was felt
that a night nurse was no longer needed. Shortly after this the family was rehoused
by the Stepney Borough Council. In July it was found possible to replace the deputy
matron by a staff nursery nurse. The position remained unchanged at the end of the
year, when the home help was giving 18 hours' assistance weekly and the parents
managing at nights and during the week-ends. The children have made steady and
satisfactory progress, and were duly vaccinated against smallpox, immunised against
diphtheria and whooping cough, and inoculated against poliomyelitis.
Prophylaxis
The incidence of poliomyelitis during the year was low and the routine work of
immunisation against diphtheria and whooping cough continued without curtailment.
The inoculation of the priority groups against poliomyelitis continued throughout
the year, but the inclusion in these groups of young adults born in 1933 and later made
necessary a considerable increase in activity. The good offices of the Medical Officer of
Health of the Corporation of London made it possible to establish a lunch-time clinic
in the Guildhall on the first three days in each week in mid-November. Evening clinics
were arranged at selected centres. Wide publicity was given to these arrangements
which were brought to the attention of all large firms in the division, but except in the
City the response generally was disappointing. In the City arrangements were made
132