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co-operative to the visit, and it is pleasing to know that these old people,
many of them living lonely lives at home, some neglected by their own
children living nearby, welcome the visit and are glad to have someone
interested in them.
As a result of the visits made so far more people have been brought
into the sphere of the services available (e.g. domestic help, chiropody,
meals on wheels, etc.) and it is apparent that there is a need to co-ordinate
in the area all the different ways in which we are endeavouring to help
the aged—so that whatever we do shall be done intelligently and as well
as we can do it.
In November, 1955, the North-Eastern Metropolitan Branch of the
Royal College of Nursing held an open meeting at the Essex County
Health Services Clinic, Dawlish Road, Leyton, to which were invited the
medical and nursing staff of the adjoining areas, together with general
medical practitioners in the area. The speaker was J. C. Ballantyne, Esq.,
F.R.C.S., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Assistant Director, Audiology Unit, Royal
National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, who lectured on " The Early
Detection of Deafness." Over 120 persons attended this interesting
meeting, and it is pleasing to record that a number of the general medical
practitioners were present.
Home Nursing.
In this area we are fortunate to have the Lady Rayleigh Training
Home, with its efficient staff of Home Nurses. Every day we are in
contact with them, and are constantly reminded by thankful patients of
their ability. They give general nursing care to any sick person as
instructed by the family doctor. This includes insulin injections, enemas
as required, post-operative dressings and blanket baths for aged and
infirm patients.
The Home Nurses and Domestic Helps do much to enable aged
persons to be cared for at home, thus relieving pressure on hospital beds
and at the same time dealing with the problem in the most economical
way.
Vaccination and Immunisation.
For the convenience of mothers in the Child Welfare Clinics vaccination
of infants is carried out at these sessions. This saves the mother
unnecessary visits and helps to increase the vaccination rate, which has
fallen considerably in the past few years.
The incidence of diphtheria continues to fall, in the country as a
whole, but only if an adequate level of immunisation is maintained can
the country be rid of diphtheria altogether. Under thirty per cent, of
new babies in the year are presented for diphtheria immunisation and
parents are being lulled into a false sense of scurity by the rarity of
diphtheria among the children of friends and neighbours.
Arrangements for whooping cough immunisation continue in the
area, and it is recommended that this should be given when the child is
as young as two months, inasmuch as the mortality for the disease is
highest in the first six months of life.
Ambulance Services.
I am indebted to the County Medical Officer for the statistics
relating to the work carried out from the Ambulance Station, Auckland
Road, Leyton.