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7
Personal Health Services
The chief feature of the year was the submission of schemes
to the Ministry of Health, covering the next 10 years in the development
of community care.
The increase in births put heavy strains on the maternity
services, especially the hospitals. As in previous years the
situation was contained by co-operation between hospitals and
the local authority which ensured definite arrangements for
every mother. Early discharge from hospitals for home care by
specially appointed domiciliary midwives is not a good system,
but gave essential relief for overbooked local maternity units.
Infant Welfare Centre figures show a rise in the numbers
first attending, but a fall in total attendances. Some of the
rented halls used for this purpose unquestionably deter mothers.
Building programmes are unfortunately subject to delays for a
variety of reasons, so that even Clinic buildings approved or
being constructed are disappointingly slow in becoming available.
In 1954 a booklet explaining the functions of Health Visitors
was sent to all family doctors, with an invitation to contact
the department whenever such services might be helpful.
Health Visitors are urged to approach the family doctor of a
family they are visiting whenever this seems appropriate.
Alternatively a note is sent to the family doctor on a printed
form explaining why the Health Visitor has called and what she
has found. It has not been possible to allocate Health Visitors
to particular medical practitioners.
Mental Health Services are developing as planned, and there
was considerable success in recruitment of essential staff.
Vaccination and Immunisation programmes were disrupted because
cases of smallpox in this country caused heavy demands at
the beginning of the year. Changing advice about timing of procedures,
and doubts about the safety of oral vaccine, were added
troubles. Protection rates for the two important diseases of
childhood, diphtheria and poliomyelitis, suffered setbacks.
Clean Air
Steady progress continued in this vital programme to make
all Croydon a Smoke control area.
Housing
There were more applications for rehousing on medical
grounds, reflecting continued suspension of the ordinary "points"
list.