Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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The majority of cases nursed have been referred by a general practitioner
and I am investigating the possibility of closer liaison with them.
The Department holds a large stock of equipment necessary for nursing
people at home. During the year existing stocks were supplemented to meet the
increased demand and these include such items as wheelchairs, commodes, hospital
beds, hoists, bed cradles, and walking aids. The items are issued on the
recommendation of a doctor, hospital staff or district nurse.
The Queen's Institute of District Nursing carried out a survey in six areas
of Britain with the object of assessing how the district nursing service measured
up to present day needs. The results of this survey were published in a report
entitled 'Feeling the Pulse' and on the whole the picture that emerged was a
disappointing one. This survey has prompted me to carry out a similar survey
in this Borough to discover how we compare. Plans have been made to collect
the information for analysis in 1967.
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
The programme of prophylaxis against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus,
poliomyelitis and smallpox was carried on as before in the Child Welfare Centres,
and a small number of children were immunised and vaccinated by their family
doctors.
There was a slight fall in the total number of primary courses of immunisation
completed, the reduction in protection against poliomyelitis being
particularly marked. However, the total percentage immunised in this Borough
varies only slightly from the national average. There is no doubt that in
order to maintain a satisfactorily high level of immunisation in children,
constant reminders are needed by all methods - not least the individual approach
to mothers by health visitors and doctors.
The sessions in infant classes at schools were restarted in the later part
of the year after a lapse due to a shortage of medical, nursing and auxiliary
staff. At these sessions re-inforcing doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and
poliomyelitis vaccine are given to children who have not had them before
starting school. Primary courses may also be given if required. A total
of 1,736 children were immunised against diphtheria and tetanus at these sessions
and 1,445 against poliomyelitis.
POLIOMYELITIS VACCINATION
Information was received from the Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health,
that the expert advisory committees now considered that oral poliomyelitis
vaccine was effective from the age of three months onwards and might be given
concurrently with triple vaccine before the age of six months. This schedule
was adopted for children immunised at the Council's clinics; by following it,
the number of visits a mother need make to the clinic for her child's immunisation
between the ages of 0-5 years is reduced from ten to six.
SMALLPOX
There was an increase of 776 in the total number of primary vaccinations
over that of the previous year and of 2,964 for re-vaccinations. This
increase was no doubt due to increased public awareness of the dangers
of the disease, because of an outbreak in the Midlands. Many adults
were re-vaccinated before travelling abroad for their holidays.