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HOME NURSING (Section 25)
The Superintendent of District Nurses, Miss A. Williams, S.R.N.,
S.C.M., Q.I., H.V.Cert., reports as follows:—
Five Whole-time nursing sisters and one part-time have been employed
on general nursing duties in the Rorough of Wanstead and
Woodford during 1958, together with two male nurses and the addition
of the part-time services of a third male nurse.
The staff, therefore, has remained at full establishment during the
year, a good standard of nursing being maintained, a high percentage
of which is concerned with the elderly and chronic sick.
Miss A. C. Mills who had worked in the Rorough as a nursing sister
since 1946 was compelled to retire on grounds of ill-health.
The following statistics show a comparison of work undertaken by
the District Nurses during the years 1957 and 1958:
1958 1957
Number of new cases 596 659
Number of visits 20,443 24,072
Last Offices performed 25 30
Advisory or Casual Visits 308 531
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION (Section 26)
Vaccination and immunisation is available at all Child Welfare
Clinics, but in the majority of cases is carried out by the family
doctor.
Intensive propaganda, both personal on the part of clinic doctors
and Health Visitors, and by means of leaflets and birthday cards, is
maintained to ensure that all infants are immunised against
Diphtheria. During the past 10 years the incidence of the disease has
fallen to a minimum with the result that never having experienced
it, present day parents tend to become complacent, and to postpone
immunisation. Nevertheless, it is estimated that 75-80 per cent of
children are being protected. It is impossible to give an accurate
figure as many practitioners do not trouble to claim the small fee
available to them for recording the immunisation. Primary immunisation
is usually carried out during the 6th-9th month, and a "booster"
dose is given at 5 years, on entry to school.
Immunisation against whooping cough is normally carried out from
the 3rd-6th month.
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