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The Sutherland House play centre, situated near the new Brandon Estate, has continued
to provide a most useful service and has been administered as an occasional creche since
April.
Prophylaxis—The work of inoculation of children against diseases from which protection
can now be offered has been well maintained. Public response to wide publicity resulted in
a substantial increase in the number receiving poliomyelitis vaccination.
To meet the great demand for inoculation during the summer months a special weekly
session for young people was arranged during lunch time at the Royal Festival Hall, where
2,159 received two inoculations during July, August and September.
Hostel for tuberculous men—An extension to Knight's Hill House hostel for homeless
infective tuberculous men was completed during the year and arrangements made for
the provision of diversional therapy classes for the residents.
School health service—Both the health and the hygiene of the schoolchildren continue
to improve. Whereas in 1939 seven full-time bathing centres were operating in the three
boroughs, by 1959 only one part-time bathing centre was needed.
Attendances at minor ailment clinics have again decreased this year, the nature of the
ailments treated becoming progressively more minor. As a result it has been possible to
withdraw the care organiser from the one remaining session attended by organising staff
last year.
Attendances at special investigation clinics, on the other hand, show a slight increase
from 525 in 1958 to 600 in 1959; many of these children are suffering from minor behaviour
difficulties. The attendance at the one hospital clinic (All Saints) confined solely to enuresis
has dropped from 896 last year to 782.
It is now, fortunately, rare to find a really sick child through the school health service.
The new Elm Court school provides every facility for delicate children and has been
particularly valuable for children with chest complaints.
Prevention of break-up of families—During the year 35 intermediate case conferences
were held. All recommendations and results were reviewed at the co-ordinating committee's
quarterly meetings. It was evident that inter-departmental co-operation was
excellent, not least in those cases where family breakdown proved unavoidable.
The South London Family Service Unit has done valuable work in holding together
15 families, nine of them with a total of 48 children referred by the co-ordinating committee.
On 30 December, 1959 the co-ordinating committee had a waiting list of five
families for Family Service Unit service when staffing permits.
The mothercraft classes started at Sutherland House last year have been most successful,
partly because the premises are in the centre of the section of the population served; the
classes at North Brixton welfare centre, which is less favourably situated, had to be closed
until more suitable premises can be found.
The special home help service has been well used and is undoubtedly of great value in
these disorganised and socially sub-standard families.
In a large majority of the families rehoused following nomination by the co-ordinating
committee definite social improvement has occurred, though regularity of rent paying has
not always resulted.
Home safety—Health education to achieve a higher standard of safety in the home has
been carried on by the health visitors. The need for fireguards in homes with children and
old people has been particularly stressed. The scheme for the loan of fireguards to
necessitous families has been very successful and 62 fireguards were provided during the
year.
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