View report page

76
spreading; despite leaflets to parents and a discussion with each
mother at the first visit to the home and possibly at return visits,
many parents tend to pass vaccination against smallpox as being
unimportant. The plans for routine immunisation against infectious
diseases were changed this year as recommended by the Ministry of
Health, smallpox vaccination now being offered during the second
year of life.
Staff
We were pleased to hear of Miss Oldham's new post as Area
Superintendent Health Visitor at Walthamstow. We have also lost
Miss Bowmer this year to another area. Both of these health visitors
had been with Ilford many years and it was a loss for the districts on
which they were working as they knew their families so well.
Miss Stower, another health visitor, was promoted to work with
the Health Visitor Tutor at the South East Essex Technical College
and is now studying to be a Tutor.
Home Accidents
935 home accidents were visited this year. Propaganda on
this subject continues by talks given by health visitors and leaflets
have been distributed on request to many different organisations.
One health visitor attended the Ro.S.P.A. Conference and following
this some health visitors attended a local clinic for lectures on
"House-work with Ease". These lectures enabled them to give useful
tips to the mother in the home, emphasis being on how to avoid
accidents.
Family Day Exhibition
As this was "Christian Family Year" the Health Department
was asked by the Church to take part in their exhibition. Our part of
this exhibition included pictures on the child in the family, at the
infant welfare centre and in school. This exhibition was a great
success because such a large number of interested people attended.
The health visitor was available to answer questions.
Meals on Wheels
At the request of the W.V.S. and the Ilford Borough Council
every person having "Meals on Wheels* was visited by a health
visitor. This was to ascertain if the elderly could cope with the
packet "Frood" frozen food method. Visits to the elderly always need
time and many, for no reason, were against changing. However, by