View report page

21
INOCULATION AGAINST POLIOMYELITIS
In February, 1960, persons in the 26-40 year age groups were included. General practitioners and
assistant medical officers of health gave two injections to 2,084 persons in the new group and three injections
to 837.
Factory managements were urged to encourage employees in this group to be vaccinated and 71
agreed to sessions being held on their premises where 2,570 employees received two injections and 42 had their
third.
Vaccination of persons in the earlier priority groups continued; 4,073 completed a course of two
injections and 8,835 three injections either at a clinic or by a general practitioner.
HOME HELP SERVICE
There were 40 more applications for the service received during the year than in 1959, and the
number receiving help at the end of the year increased by 10% (see Table 62). The number of Home Helps
(86) remained the same.
There were two increases in the rate of pay for Home Helps during 1960, bringing the rate up to
3s. lOd. per hour, and 10 helpers qualified for the extra 3 days' annual leave now granted after 10 years'
service.
The charge to the public in I960 remained the same at 4s. per hour, but it has now been increased
to 4s. 6d. per hour.
87 bookings were taken for maternity cases but only 52 were helped, the remainder making alternative
arrangements.
The number of home visits made by the organisers was 4,659.
DAY NURSERIES (Tables 64 - 68)
All the approved places in the 8 nurseries, together with 30 places in York Park Nursery, Hendon,
have been filled throughout the year with a good general daily attendance. The waiting list has increased.
The nurseries have remained under-staffed because of the difficulty in recruiting qualified nursery
nurses.
Two nursery nurses attended a wardens' training course at Chiswick Polytechnic in January and
were later appointed as wardens. Three matrons attended the Refresher Course held at Chiswick Polytechnic
in July. Eight students completed their 2 years period of training and all successfully obtained the N.N.E.B
Certificate.
CONVALESCENCE
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, patients recovering from a serious illness or
operation and requiring only rest, fresh air and good food to complete treatment, may be recommended for a
short term stay in a convalescent home.
General practitioners, hospitals and clinics, make the recommendations, which are sent to the county
medical officer who arranges suitable homes.
Patients who ask for a reduction in the standard charge of £5 5s. Od. must complete an economic
circumstances form and they are assessed by the divisional finance officer. They may also ask for payment
of travelling expenses.
Number of recommendations:—
1960 1959
Adults 96 110
Children 21 35
117 145
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE (Tables 69 - 80)
Medical Inspection
Routine medical inspections in schools continued. Defects found were followed up and treatment
offered at one of the specialist clinics.
Orthoptics
Since more children are being brought to the clinic soon after they begin to squint, we can assume
that more parents now realise that squints can be treated at an early age. The Orthoptist can therefore assess
early changes in the squint and give treatment to produce a quicker cure.