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The routine vaccination with B.C.G. of all tuberculin negative children between the ages
of 13 and 14 years whose parents give their consent is now to be spread more evenly through
the year. A divisonal team (doctor, nurse and clerk) instead of a team from central office
will undertake the work.
Tuberculosis incidents in schools are being particularly closely followed up.
Family planning—A six-month survey of the family planning clinics in the division showed
that only about one third of the women referred to the clinics on medical grounds actually
attended. Accordingly, arrangements have been made for clinic doctors who have referred
women to these clinics to be informed at monthly intervals of patients who have not
followed their advice.
Premises—The Islington training centre closed in April; the staff and 12 of the girls
transferred to the Mary Hughes centre, Whitechapel, and the remaining nine girls went to
the Camden training centre.
West Islington welfare centre and South Area home help office vacated premises at
Richmond Avenue, N.l, at the end of September. The services were transferred to the new
purpose-build Barnsbury maternity and child welfare centre, Carnegie Street, N.l, which
was opened ceremonially by the Chairman of the Health Committee, on 5 November, in
the presence of the Mayor of Islington. Services previously conducted at Pentonville
school treatment centre, Vittoria Street, N. 1 were also transferred to the new centre, where
six weekly chiropody services are also held.
Mental health—Casework has continued to develop steadily during the year, one notable
feature being the increasing number of referrals for community care coming from general
practitioners. At the request of the psychiatrist concerned, the mental health social workers
now attend one of the weekly out-patient clinics connected with Friern hospital. It has still
not been possible to open a much-needed day centre in the division, but it is hoped that the
vacated premises referred to above may become available for this purpose. An interesting
recent development has been a very successful occupational therapy class for former
housebound patients, held twice a week at the divisional office; also the psychiatric social
worker now runs a therapeutic group at the office once a week which is proving very useful.
The psychiatric social club, which was at first slow to grow in numbers, is now a happy
well-established group.
School health service—The scheme for selective medical inspections, which in 1963
showed a proportionately greater incidence of defects in children examined than did the
routine seven-year-old medical inspections, has continued successfully in the past year
with encouraging results.
DIVISION 4, comprising the boroughs of Hackney, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington
Dr. S. King reports:
On the eve of a major re-organisation of London's government it seems that I should
comment on changed aspects of the personal health service since 1948.
Maternity and child welfare—This service, basically the same, but re-shaped to fit changing
circumstances, now includes close liaison with general practitioners and the provision of
facilities at welfare centres for general practitioner obstetricians and domiciliary midwives.
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