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31
IMMUNISATION
Greater efforts were made during the year to raise the acceptance
rate for vaccination against poliomyelitis, and with triple vaccine against
diphtheria/whooping cough/tetanus, on the assumption that with over 75%
of the population at risk protected outbreaks are unlikely. Success was
almost achieved in primary protection against polio, (74.6%) but fell short
of the target with triple vaccine (68.5%). In the absence of reported
cases, apathy is difficult to overcome, but experience in other areas
suggests that the strenuous follow up of defaulters, from information
produced by a computer, can ensure acceptance rates of over 80%. It is
anticipated that we shall be able to use the Corporation's computer for
this purpose in due course.
For tables see Appendix.
HOME NURSING
In view of the developments in the attachment of nurses to general
practitioners group practices, the separate systems operating in the former
County Borough and County districts were allowed to continue. There
were difficulties in one attachment which made it clear that only nurses
using motor cars can be allocated for these duties. Unfortunately with the
present dispersal of patients attended by individual practitioners in urban
areas, attached nurses are compelled to travel more widely than their
colleagues allocated to compact districts. Nevertheless the advantages
of working directly with family doctors outweighs this drawback. Furthermore
doctors are tending to confine acceptance of new patients to those
resident within a reasonable distance of the surgery, and thus are solving
the major problem of nurse attachment.
For details of work carried out see Appendix.