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Training of Departmental Medical Officers in Developmental
Paediatrics continues so that they become more skilled in detecting
handicapping conditions at an early stage. They are seconded to attend
special courses organised and run by the Society of Medical Officers
of Health. Up to the present time two doctors have been sent by this
Authority. Twice during the year doctors who were on these courses
attended Hillside Day Nursery for practice sessions and were also
shown around the I.L.E.A. Marsh House Educationally Sub-Normal School
in Millfields Road, formerly a Special Care Unit. Child Health Clinic
"patterns" were also investigated during the year so that the best use
could be made of doctor time. It is anticipated that combined i.e. Child
Health cum Immunisation Sessions will be started in the Borough.
Health Departments were circularised in August with information
pertaining to the Guthrie Blood Test for the detection of phenylketonuria
in babies from the Hospital for Sick Children, Gt. Ormond Street.
Figures of the numbers screened with the number of positive tests were
given, together with information about additional tests which are carried
out for the detection of hisidinaenia and homolystinuria.
During the year the Department was notified by the Department of
Health and Social Security that trials carried out by the Medical
Research Council had shown that the dose of ante-immunnoglobulin
available for Rh. negative mothers having Rh. positive babies would be
reduced without detriment. It was, therefore, possible to extend the
categories of women who would be eligible for treatment to include the
following.
1. All Rh. negative women having Rh. positive children regardless of
parity.
2. All Rh. negative women having therapeutic abortions or a termination
of pregnancy.
3. At discretion of the individual clinician.
It was decided that all the local hospitals should be contacted at
the end of the year for their opinions as to the advisability, because
of the probable future trends, of the use of the metric system for
recording the birth weights of babies on discharge.