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Maternity services—Pressure on hospital maternity beds continues and of necessity
some women, especially in Deptford, have to be referred to the Emergency Bed Service.
During the year arrangements were made for the early discharge of pre-selected cases in
the Greenwich and Deptford areas which has helped to ease the position slightly.
Mental health—The case conference discussion groups continued to meet under the
leadership of consultant psychiatrists. The Woolwich group now hold their meetings at
Castlewood day hospital which opened in mid-year.
Prophylaxis—In October a trial of quadruple vaccine was commenced, sponsored by the
Medical Research Council. This will continue for a year and, if successful, will reduce the
number of visits to clinics or doctors needed to complete immunisation. It will also avoid
the difficulties inherent in the storage and distribution of oral Sabin vaccine.
B.C.G. Vaccination—The B.C.G. team visited all secondary schools in the division.
Of the 3,186 children skin tested, 3,040 tubercular negative children were given B.C.G.,
while 146 children were referred for X-ray.
Chiropody—There was great difficulty in maintaining a full service during the year;
instead of a maximum of 171 sessions per week in the division an average of 130 had to be
accepted. Every effort was made to meet the demand of priority classes but at times the
waiting period had of necessity to be longer than desirable. Credit is due to the staff who
made every attempt to deal with the problem.
Prevention of break-up of families—The co-ordinating committee continued to meet
regularly to consider policy and subjects of common concern as well as measures to help
particular families, the allocation of social case workers and of specially trained home
helps. In addition, 36 intermediate case conferences were held, at which a number of
departments of the Council and the majority of other statutory and voluntary agencies in
the area took part.
Home helps—An increase in demand, most marked in the Woolwich and Plumstead
areas, was noted. With the completion of the Abbey Wood estate this area has reached the
stage when a strengthening of the supervisory staff has become necessary and measures
wore put in hand to achieve this. Where large numbers of home helps are employed a
minor increase in the sickness rate added to increased demand in the community for the
same reason may produce difficulties. On the whole a high standard is maintained, due to
the efforts of the organisers and the willing co-operation of the home helps.
Smallpox—Following the confirmation of a case of smallpox in Woolwich on
24 January arrangements were made for the opening of 30 vaccination sessions. On
26 January all children attending a school where there were two contacts of the case were
vaccinated. Facilities were extended during the week following, when all normal sessions
at centres (except ante-natal) were open to the public. In all 120 sessions were held at
27 centres. By Saturday, 10 February, 51,227 children had been vaccinated at school and
50,057 of the general public at the special sessions. It is estimated that, including those
by general practitioners, a total of 130,000 vaccinations were carried out.
Doctors, health visitors, all members of the staff and many voluntary helpers worked
unceasingly during this crisis which, considering the stress and the many difficulties of
supply and transport involved, was an amazingly smooth operation due entirely to the
co-operation and unselfishness of all concerned.
DIVISION 7, comprising the boroughs of Camberwell and Lewi sham
Dr. Ann Mower White reports:
Prophylaxis—The occurrence of cases of smallpox in London, although none occurred
in Camberwell or Lewisham, resulted in an intensified demand for vaccination both at the
Council's clinics and at general practitioners' surgeries. In the Council's clinics priority
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