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It is considered that this vaccination scheme will confer a
great benefit on our child population, and it is hoped that
before many years a degree of success against poliomyelitis may
be obtained somewhat similar to that against diphtheria in the
past.
On the 30th November, 1956, an afternoon meeting was held
at the Civil Defence Headquarters, King Charles' Crescent, in
the presence of His Worship the Mayor, the Mayoress, and Town
Clerk, when the latest coloured film entitled "Defence against
poliomyelitis" was shown to a specially invited audience of
Councillors, General Medical Practitioners, Hospital and Public
Health Authority medical staff, Health Visitors, District Nurses
and Public Health Inspectors.
About 130 persons attended and it was most encouraging that
a large attendance gathered for this meeting which formed part of
the programme of Education in Health, and of the general policy
to promote co-ordination between workers in the field of preventive
medicine.
Prom reports received the meeting was greatly appreciated.
DIPHTHERIA
No cases of this disease have occurred in the Borough since
1946, and if parents will continue to take advantage of the
immunisation service offered there is no reason why the disease
should not be entirely stamped out. The responsibility for
providing this service rests with the County Council by virtue of
section 26 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, and the
Medical Officer of Health, who is also the Divisional Medical
Officer for the County Council, organises the service within the
Borough.
Clerical work is conducted in the Public Health Department
on behalf of the County Council for which 35% of a clerk's salary
is reimbursed.
A campaign was conducted during April in an endeavour to
increase the number of children immunised.
With the co-operation of the Chief and. Senior Officers of the
Town Council, posters were exhibited and leaflets distributed to
the public drawing attention to the services available.
Arrangements were made with the Managers of the cinemas in
the Borough for two slides to be shown during the week commencing
the 9th April for six days.
A personal appeal was made by letter to the general medical
practitioners in the Borough to assist a special effort during 1956
to secure the highest Possible percentage of immunity to
diphtheria amongst the children in Surbiton.
Arrangements have been made with general practitioners to
carry out diphtheria and whooping cough immunisation. A doctor
taking part is expected to send records to the Authority of the
immunisations carried out in the course of his general medical
service; the Authority provides the record cards and pays a fee
to the doctor for each completed record received.
Doctors are able to collect prophylactic material from the
Public Health Department or from the Central public Health
Laboratory at Colindale.
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