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6
There was an increase in first attendances at the V. D.
Clinic.
Prom the viewpoint of physical health, it was a reasonably
good year.
Communicable Diseases.
The absence of a single case of Poliomyelitis vindicated the
policy of vaccination. Notifications of Whooping Cough increased
markedly,but generally the illness remained of a mild character.
Other infections gave rise to no particular difficulties. One
of the cases of Typhoid Fever, which is reported in some detail,
emphasized the old adage "where there's dirt there's danger".
The Chest Physician reports upon another successful year's
work. During the year under review what was originally the
Tuberculosis Dispensary and later the Chest Clinic,became a full
Out-Patient service in the general pattern of hospital provision.
Such a trend had been foreseen in Croydon, when the premises in
Mayday Road were acquired by the Regional Board. Their proximity
to Mayday Hospital allowed the changeover without any difficulties.
On the local health authority side it was possible to
re-distribute work amongst a smaller staff.
Personal Health Services.
The most important event was the coming into operation of
the Mental Health Act. Planning in Croydon was greatly simplified
by existing co-operation between the three branches of the
Health Service, and especially with the Mental Hospital.
Developments went forward very much as planned, and the
"appointed day" brought no particular difficulties.
In the field of Maternity and Child Welfare, the rise in the
birth-rate increased the demand on the Hospital and Domiciliary
Maternity Services. The continued employment of Maternity
Nurses allowed much needed relief to be given to the Hospitals,
who were thus able to discharge mothers to their homes early in
the lying-in period. Health Visitors were equally busy, but
nevertheless successfully developed new aspects of their work.
The Home Help Service recorded a further increase in the hours
of service given to patients. The Home Nurses had fewer new
cases, and there was a reduction in the total visits paid to
patients. However, as explained last year, the change was due
to the replacement of many drugs which must be given by injection,
by new types which can be taken by mouth. This aspect
of the District Nurses' work has also been simplified by the
introduction of a Central Sterile Syringe Service.