View report page

etc. Sitters-in, too, would represent a very useful service. Such provision
as has been made of this kind of service has been done by voluntary
organisations. It should, however, be possible for welfare authorities to
undertake these responsibilities in ever-increasing proportion, as it would
appear to be economically sound.
In this connection, we must again record with grateful thanks the work
of the Old People's Clubs, which has continued under the able guidance
of Councillor Mrs. V. M. Boyce during 1951.
We must acknowledge with thanks, too, the day-to-day administration
of the domestic help domiciliary service, in which the W.V.S. and
their Domestic Help Supervisor, Mrs. D. Best, played such a large part,
and which was continued on a full-time voluntary basis throughout the
year.
A close liaison was maintained with the Geriatric Department at
St. Helier Hospital and with the almoners of all the hospitals in the
neighbourhood. Urgent demands for admission were arranged most
expeditiously, but with the ever-increasing strain on hospital accommodation,
it is not always easy to place infirm geriatric cases satisfactorily.
There has been a general improvement in the incidence and treatment
of tuberculosis throughout the country, the work of the Mass Radiography
Units in ensuring early recognition of the disease and improved
sanatorial accommodation for new cases making it possible to prevent
the spread of the disease by removing foci of infection as soon as they
occur. On page 42, the record of tuberculosis in the Borough is set out,
and it will be noted that while there was a slight increase in the number of
cases notified in 1951, the number of deaths from tuberculosis showed a
marked fall, the tuberculosis death rate per 1,000 of population in the
Borough being only 0.18. A number of children from tuberculous
households was dealt with under the County Council's boarding-out
scheme. This service has proved eminently successful in removing
susceptible young persons from infective surroundings. Domiciliary
home help service, too, was extremely valuable in helping the care of
tuberculous patients nursed at home.
A number of children, whose parents are known to be tuberculous,
have received the new B.C.G. vaccine. The introduction of this preventive
measure holds out great hope in safeguarding susceptible individuals
at an early age. The method is so recent, however, that it is
impossible at this stage to estimate the value of the vaccine.
On page 37 a note is made of the high nutritional standard of the
children in the Borough. The general impression of medical officers in
charge of infant welfare centres and school clinics, and conducting school
medical inspections, is that the children in the district show a higher
standard of growth, both in weight and height, than was seen before the
1939/1945 war. There is now so very much more done for children, and
there are so very many outlets for their energies at all ages, that a natural
improvement in development can be confidently looked for.
11