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At the end of the year major improvements of the heating installation were nearing
completion at Cromwell Lodge hostel for tuberculous men. The old coke-fired boilers were
replaced by oil-fired boilers in a new boiler house; rooms previously without radiators
were provided with them and a consistent standard of space heating now obtains throughout
the building.
Staff— Not infrequently visitors to divisional establishments were unaware of the
identity of staff whom they had seen—the nearest description being 'someone in a white
coat'. was decided accordingly that all staff interviewing visitors in clinics and at home
help offices should be identifiable by cards bearing their names and fixed to small desk
stands. These desk stands were made by the Council's industrial workshop for the mentally
subnormal in Stepney. This innovation has proved popular with visitors and staff alike
as a means of rendering a more personal service.
DIVISION 4, comprising the boroughs of Hackney, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington.
Dr. S. King reports:
Woodberry Down health centre—The clinics at the centre and the general medical and
dental work continued on existing lines, but there were some interesting extensions in the
use of the accommodation.
After twelve months experience of housing a sub-office of the Children's department, it
is clear that the ease and regularity of contact between health visitors, psychiatric social
workers and child welfare officers has facilitated the work of both departments and cooperation
generally has been greatly strengthened.
The Welfare department opened, early in the year, two weekly classes for the rehabilitation
of physically handicapped persons. Transport is arranged for the more severely
disabled. Instruction is given in hand weaving, basket work, glove puppet.making and other
handicrafts. In the demonstration kitchen members of the class are taught easy methods of
cooking and the use of simple appliances designed to help handicapped persons to carry
out routine kitchen work.
Towards the end of the year the Welfare department opened a class for the training of
young blind persons. Another development has been the holding of an ante.natal clinic by
one of the general practitioners at the centre. During the summer the London Ambulance
Service began Civil Defence training classes in the lecture hall, and similar training classes
were organised by Stoke Newington borough council. Other activities at the centre are
mentioned in later sections of this report.
Some structural work has been carried out during the year. An existing waiting.space in
the child guidance suite has been partitioned off and converted into an office, and in the
audiology room wall insulation has been provided to improve the sound.proofing.
The number of visitors to the centre continued at a high level, over 1,100 being received
during the year, including nearly 200 from overseas.
Three one.day in.service training courses for clinic nurses were held at the health centre
for staff from all nine divisions. About 25 nurses attended each course.
Mental health—The team of mental health officers, based upon the Shoreditch health
centre, started their work in late October and by the end of the year had established a good
relationship with many of the general practitioners in the area.
In addition to three training centres for mentally sub.normal persons the division has a
day centre, opened in June, for the rehabilitation of patients recovering from mental
illness. Places for 40 patients are provided.
An experimental scheme in the social rehabilitation of psychiatric patients is also being
conducted from Woodberry Down health centre.
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