View report page

REPORTS BY THE DIVISIONAL MEDICAL OFFICERS
(A statistical summary of work done in the divisions will be found at the end of this section.)
DIVISION 1, comprising the boroughs of Chelsea, Fulham, Hammersmith and
Kensington
Dr. Bertha E. A. Sharpe reports:
Prophylaxis—The scheme whereby protection against whooping cough, diphtheria,
tetanus and smallpox could be obtained at certain infant welfare sessions, as well as at
the ad hoc sessions held at the centres, has been extended to nearly all the centres in the
division. In addition, mothers and children may be vaccinated against poliomyelitis at
these sessions.
Vaccination against poliomyelitis—The demand for vaccination against poliomyelitis
declined steadily throughout the year and many of the open sessions were discontinued.
During the year 17,023 persons had two injections and 31,232 received a third injection.
College Park welfare centre—College Park welfare centre, which served a small and
isolated area of Hammersmith, was closed on 27 May, 1960, as attendances had been
very low for some time. Facilities for mothers attending the centre were provided at
St. Quintin welfare centre and, by arrangement, at the Middlesex County Council clinic
in Purves Road, N.W.10, both of which are within easy reach of the College Park district.
The premises used formerly for the welfare centre are being adapted for use as a training
centre for elder girls.
Occasional creches—During the year additional creche sessions were instituted at
Lancaster Road, Raymede, Tavistock and St. Quintin welfare centres and St. Dunstan's
Road school treatment centre. The demand for places at Raymede and Tavistock centres
later decreased and these sessions were discontinued. The creche at St. Quintin welfare
centre thrived however, and an additional creche session was started there in October.
At the end of the year ten creche sessions were being held weekly.
Family planning—Two very successful clinics have been operating in Fulham for several
years and an additional session at Glenthorne Road welfare centre, Hammersmith, was
started in December.
School health service—The withdrawal of organisers from vision clinics was extended to
Milson Road centre in February. A reduction in attendances at Sedlescombe Road bathing
centre meant that these premises were not being fully used; it was therefore arranged that
minor ailment treatment facilities should be transferred in April to the bathing centre
from unsatisfactory premises in Munster Road school. The Sedlescombe Road premises
are used now as a bathing centre in the mornings and a minor ailment treatment centre
in the afternoons. Arrangements for the cleansing of schoolchildren at the Hammersmith
cleansing station ceased on 31 March, such children as needed these facilities being dealt
with at Sedlescombe Road centre.
Prevention of break.up of families—Two part.time social caseworkers were appointed,
bringing the total to one full.time and four part.time workers of whom one did not start
work before the end of the year.
There were four policy meetings of the divisional co.ordinating committee and 41 case
conferences at which 49 families were considered. Case work was undertaken on seventeen
families, thirteen of which were referred to caseworkers during the year. Two of these
122