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Some patients who attend Diabetic Clinics require advice to be given in their homes on their treatment,
diet and after-care. Health visitors who attend the Diabetic Clinics at the Central Middlesex and
Willesden General Hospitals give this advice under the supervision of the physician in charge. 27 visits were
made during the year to the 71 patients selected by the physician in charge for these health visitors.
The number of health visitors has decreased slightly for the Willesden part of the area (Table 57).
However, temporary clinic nurses have been employed to help at the clinic sessions and visit schools for
medical inspections and routine hygiene inspections.
The Middlesex County Council introduced a sponsored scheme for student health visitors in September,
1955. Students receive theoretical training at the Chiswick Polytechnic and their practical training in
one of the areas. They must remain with the County Council as health visitors for two years after they
qualify. Two students who were sponsored for Willesden commenced their training in 1960 and will take
their final examinations in 1961. Two other students had their practical training in Willesden.
MINISTRY OF FOOD—WELFARE FOODS
National dried milk, orange juice, cod liver oil and vitamin 'A' and 'D' tablets continued to be distributed
from centres and clinics in the Borough.
HOME NURSING
The Area Health Office is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Home Nursing Service
in Willesden.
The nurses are non-resident and the local medical practitioners and hospitals receive, from time to
time, an up-to-date list of their names, addresses and telephone numbers, so that direct contact with the nurses
can be made. In addition, three alternative telephone numbers are set out on the list which can be used
for emergency calls at weekends and bank holidays, when the Area Health Office is closed.
Home nurses carry out treatments such as the general care of the acute and chronic sick, blanket
baths and injections for patients including children under 5 years of age and the aged and infirm. They also
help to train handicapped and disabled patients to get up and about again; and they advise relatives on the
care of the aged in their families.
Home nurses made visits to their patients by arrangement with the family doctors. Some patients are
visited morning and evening, some once a day and others less frequently.
There has been a slight decrease in the number of new patients referred during the year and the
number of visits made (Table 58), mainly because of a reduction in the number of injections ordered by
doctors, particularly of penicillin.
The following cases were being nursed at the end of the year:—
Abscess of leg 10
Arthritis 61
Anaemia 96
Bronchitis 26
Cancer 38
Cardiac 120
Constipation 2
Diabetic 42
Disseminated sclerosis 21
Discharge of ear 3
Diseases of eye 6
Gastric conditions 3
Hemiplegia 43
Post operative 7
Pneumonia 3
Rheumatism 4
Senility 91
Tuberculosis 22
Uterine conditions 4
Varicose ulcers 40
642
SMALLPOX VACCINATION
Vaccinations are done by the staff at the health clinics, but most of them are carried out by general
practitioners. The number of children under one year of age vaccinated, represents 42% of the total live
births for the year (Table 60).
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION
All children under one year old are offered protection against diphtheria, and private doctors and
assistant medical officers of health immunise them: the material for immunisation is supplied free of charge
by the Medical Research Council.
Children usually receive reinforcing doses just before they start school. Table 61 shows the total
number of children who have received protection against diphtheria during the last 15 years (1946-1960).
The estimated percentage of children who have received an injection during their school life is 73.6.