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During the year, considerable social work was done for the aged in
Beddington and Wallington, and it would be ungracious not to mention
the name of Councillor Mrs. V. M. Boyce, whose Old People's Clubs did
so much to provide regular recreational activities and outings. The work
of these clubs is beyond praise, and has done much to alleviate the lot
of those old persons living at home, who are not too infirm to take
advantage of the opportunities presented.
The work of the Women's Voluntary Services, too, must be acknowledged
with grateful thanks. The W.V.S. Domestic Help Supervisor
(Mrs. D. Best), under the direction of the Divisional Medical Officer,
continued to give voluntary full-time service throughout the whole year.
Close collaboration with the almoners of hospitals and the geriatric
department of St. Helier Hospital was maintained, but with the everincreasing
demand, it is difficult to meet all the requirements of the aged.
On page 38 tables are set out showing the new cases of tuberculosis
notified during the year, and the number of deaths from this disease.
It is gratifying to note that in this district there has not only been a slight
fall in the number of new cases notified, but also in the number of deaths.
Serious concern has been felt throughout the country at the alarming
increase in notifications of tuberculosis and the number of deaths from
this disease. In the opinion of many, the high incidence can in part be
attributed to the bad housing conditions under which serious cases of the
disease must of necessity be nursed, with the added degree of risk to other
members of the household, and also the shortage of sanatorial accommodation.
The Regional Hospital Board is making a determined effort
to reduce the waiting time for cases recommended to be admitted for
treatment. Wherever possible, some degree of priority is given by housing
authorities to families whose members are suffering from tuberculosis.
The County Council's boarding-out scheme has proved very successful
in removing children from surroundings in which the risk of tuberculous
contamination is great.
There has been a considerable demand for home help service to
assist in the care of cases at home where hospital admission cannot be
arranged. It is not always easy, however, to recruit home helps willing
to undertake the risk of working in tuberculous households.
During the year there was a remarkable increase in the incidence of
some infectious diseases. Measles showed a very high seasonal incidence
during the last three months of the year, while whooping-cough was very
much more prevalent than during the preceding year, the highest
incidence being reached during July and August. Influenzal pneumonia,
especially affecting persons past middle age, also showed an increase,
14 cases being notified.
Two cases of acute poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) were notified
during the year. Only one case, however, developed some degree of
residual paralysis. This more severe case, diagnosed and removed to
hospital from this Borough, was only temporarily resident in the area.
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