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necessitating a number of additional sessions. Visits by health visitors to expectant mothers
and to children under one year of age also were much higher than previously.
Arrangements were completed during the year for several general practitioner
obstetricians to have the free use of ante-natal clinic facilities at welfare centres to see their
booked maternity patients in co-operation with district domiciliary midwives, thus enabling
the expectant mother to see her doctor and the midwife with whom she is booked at one
and the same visit. It is hoped to extend these arrangements in 1963.
Day nurseries—The demand for day nursery places continues and attendances at the
seven day nurseries in the division were maintained at a high level.
Occasional creches—These continue to serve a useful purpose at five of the centres, at
an average of eighteen sessions per week.
Prevention of break-up of families—The divisional co-ordinating committee held
seven meetings during 1962. There were 16 intermediate case conferences at which
67 families were discussed; over a quarter of these were referred by the housing department
on account of rent arrears. Families referred for discussion by borough council housing
departments numbered thirteen, compared with one during 1961. Two family case workers
were employed whole-time, and one part-time, during the year; they were responsible for
intensive work with a total of 31 families. In addition, health visitors made a total of 2,159
visits to families in special need and trained home helps were provided to 13 households.
Prophylaxis—To deal with the sudden demand for vaccination which followed the
outbreaks of smallpox early in the year, it was necessary to arrange ad hoc sessions all day
and in the evenings for a period of approximately three weeks. Private doctors were also
inundated with requests for protection. During the first quarter of the year over 43,000
vaccinations and re-vaccinations were given at Council clinics. The number of vaccinations
and re-vaccinations during 1962 at clinics and by general practitioners in the division
totalled over 64,000—an unprecedented number—and over 2,000 international certificates
were issued.
In April, oral (Sabin) poliomyelitis vaccine was introduced for routine vaccination
against poliomyelitis.
Child guidance units—Two units now function in the division, the Hoxton child guidance
unit opening in May at the Hoxton treatment centre. The medical director holds four sessions
each week and a psychiatric social worker and an educational psychologist are
employed full-time. There is no doubt the work of the unit will expand and it is anticipated
that in 1963 the services of a child psychotherapist will be required. The child guidance
unit at Woodberry Down health centre, established ten years ago, continues to be very
busy, attracting not only patients but students and many visitors.
Mental health—Community care services for the mentally ill continue to expand; social
activities developed during the year include an evening art group each week at the Woodberry
Down health centre and a weekly evening social club and a group for music appreciation
at the Shoreditch health centre. Mental welfare staff give freely of their spare time to
organise and attend meetings of these groups. In addition, at the Shoreditch health centre,
a day centre was opened early in December for twenty chronically ill patients who, though
ineligible for admission to Clifton Lodge day rehabilitation centre, are considered to be
suitable for and in need of this kind of help. A full-time supervisor is in charge and
admissions are arranged under the supervision of the divisional mental welfare officer.
Very simple industrial work is provided, together with outings organised by the supervisor.
A waiting list is already building up. The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association—a
voluntary organisation—receives a grant from the Council towards the cost of a day
centre for approximately ten patients, held three days weekly in accommodation at the
Hackney Downs Baptist Chapel.
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