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Tuberculosis Health Visitor. Full enquiries are made as to the
source of infection and into any infection possibly caused by the
sputum positive patient. Close watch is maintained in regard to
inter-connected cases, e.g., multiple cases from the same place of
employment. As far as possible, each case is investigated on the
same lines as a case of major infectious disease.
4. Other Action.—This includes the chest X-ray examination
on appointment of those employed in contact with groups of children,
e.g., school and nursing staff; B.C.G. vaccination of school
leavers under the Medical Research Council's Field Trials, and of
child contacts at the clinics. These are referred to fully in the
Report of the Borough School Medical Officer.
At the Chest Clinic, 90 direct contacts were vaccinated with
B.C.G. during 1952. The Mass Radiography Unit of the Regional
Hospital Board did not visit the Borough during 1952, but is to
be here in the Spring of 1953.
The services provided by the Health Area Sub-Committee
include Health Education, Home Visiting and Home Nursing,
the provision of Home Helps, extra nourishment and care and
after-care. These services are more fully referred to in the later
section of the Report.
Care and After-Care.—This matter is dealt with under Section
"G" of the Report.
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Old People's Welfare.—The Town Clerk, as Honorary
Secretary of the Old People's Welfare Committee, states that
12,506 meals were provided during 1952. The monthly totals
varied between a minimum of 851 in February to a maximum of
1,300 in October. An additional round was begun in October,
making five rounds in all on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
There were 40 voluntary helpers at the end of the year, but more
were required.
The Committee organised outings, a Christmas dinner to the
recipients of Meals on Wheels and a concert to some 500 old people.
At the end of the year there were seven Old People's Clubs.
According to the Registrar General's Estimates of the sex and
age distribution of civilian population (England and Wales) at the
31st December, 1947, the number of Walthamstow residents aged
65 years and over compared with the total population in Walthamstow
was the second highest of the six Boroughs in Metropolitan
Essex, the figures being as follows:—