View report page

(c) B.C.G. Vaccination. B.C.G. vaccination was commenced during 1951. Sessions
are held at monthly intervals, at which the necessary tests are read and the vaccine
given. In the case of new-born children likely to be exposed to infection vaccination
is, whenever possible, carried out within a few days of birth, either in the home or
hospital. Segregation is arranged whenever the child is likely to be exposed Vo
infection during the interval between the two skin tests preceding vaccination, or in
the period following vaccination but before Mantoux conversion has been demonstrated.
in these eases where the parents are unable to arrange for the child to go to relatives,
the child is boarded out by the Council through the agency of the Invalid Children's
Aid Association.
During 1951, 96 children were given B.C.G. Vaccine, and during 1952, 103 were
vaccinated.
2. Convalescence.
Modifications of the Council's proposals under Section 28 of the National Health
Service Act, 1946, to provide appropriate convalescence treatment of the "holiday home"
type were approved by the Minister of Health and came into operation in July, 1949.
Up to the end of 1949 24 applications were received but as the scheme became more widely
known the number of applications increased and now appears to have become more or less
stabilised, comparative figures for the years 1950, 1951 and 1952 being 141, 123 and 127
respectively.
All applications are fully investigated before approval is given by the Medical
Officer of Health or his Deputy who, in cases of doubt as to whether the patient is
suitable for this particular kind of convalescence, discusses the matter with the doctor
making the recommendation.
On return from the convalescent home all patients are visited by one of the
Council's officers when enquiries are made as to the type of home, and whether the patients
derived benefit from their stay. It is pleasing to report that the majority of patients
sent away under this scheme stated that they had improved in health and that the improvement
had been maintained. In nearly every case the reports on the Homes were most
satisfactory.
Charges are made for this service, the patients being assessed to pay towards the
cost of maintenance in accordance with the Council's Assessment Scale.
During the year 1952, 127 applications for adult convalescence were received, the
sources of referral being - general practitioners 72; general hospitals (mostly out-patients)
36; Chest Clinic 14; and Psychiatric Clinics 5.
Of these, 13 were withdrawn either by the patient, or the recommending doctor before
consideration by the Council's medical officer.
The remaining 114 applications were approved but of these 13 were subsequently withdrawn
by the patients for varying reasons, and 5 because the patients were not fit to travel.
The number of patients who received convalescence treatment was therefore 96.
The average period of convalescence was 2.3 weeks per patient and of the 96 who went
away 78 stated they had improved in health and that the improvement had been maintained.
56