London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

London County Council 1958

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

This page requires JavaScript

The fall in the number immunised against whooping cough was due to the fact that
combined immunisation against whooping cough and diphtheria had to be stopped
from April to July and precedence was given to diphtheria immunisation.
There was a very substantial increase in the number receiving poliomyelitis
vaccination because of the greater availability of vaccine and the increased number
becoming eligible. The number receiving B.C.G. has also increased. The work of
B.C.G. vaccination of 13-year-old school children was taken over by the medical
officers of the division during the year.
Day nurseries
The demand for day nursery accommodation again diminished during the year.
The average daily attendance at day nurseries in the division was 658, compared with
699 in 1957. Three day nurseries were closed during the year. The Fulford Street
nursery was closed in February, Crossways nursery was closed in May and Gipsy
Hill nursery in June.
Hostel for
tuberculous
men
Knight's Hill House was opened in June as a hostel for 32 homeless infective
tuberculous men.
School health
service
The health of the school children has been well maintained. Owing to the continued
fall in the number of children suffering from either rheumatic or nutritional conditions,
sessions confined to these categories ceased during the year and special investigation
clinics were substituted throughout the division. These clinics deal chiefly with dietetic
problems, obesity, enuresis and minor behaviour disorders.
There has been a further fall in the number of children treated for minor ailments.
During the year the Cutten Memorial clinic was closed, as the numbers attending in
both the minor ailments and dental departments no longer justified continuing to
nrovide facilities so near to St. George's disoensarv. where thev are also available.

Figures comparing attendances for minor ailments in 1957 and 1958 are shown in the following table:

Minor AilmentsEar InfectionsEye infections
19573,97883282
19583,72750149

The general condition of the children has much improved and it is now so rare for the
first detection of social problems to be made at minor ailment sessions that treatment
organisers have been withdrawn from all sessions except that at the Southwark health
services department.
Co-ordinating
committee
The work of the co-ordinating committee has continued actively throughout the
year and 33 case conferences on problem families were called. The chief difficulty has
been the shortage of housing accommodation for the large families. The South London
Family Service Unit began work in the northern part of the division in September,
and although not yet fully established, is already dealing with 13 problem families.
Special mothercraft and home-making classes have been arranged in conjunction with
the London Council of Social Service at Sutherland House and North Brixton welfare
centre. These classes have been well attended and should prove of great benefit and
help to prevent many families sliding into the category of problem families.
Health
education
Health education has been carried on mainly by health visitors. A subject is chosen
each month and posters and pamphlets dealing with it are shown at clinics, whilst
lectures and demonstrations are given and a special display is put in the shop window
at a sub-office in Brixton. Subjects dealt with during the year included the care of old
people, smoking and lung cancer, summer clothing, mental health, feet and posture and
accidents in the home.
138