[Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Pontypool R.D.C.

  • Pontypool (Wales). Rural District Council.
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Pontypool R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The year 1956 was also important because of the introduction of vaccination against poliomyelitis. This vaccine is given on a voluntary basis. Due to limited supplies only those born in November and March in the years between 1947 and 1954 were I then vaccinated. All vaccinations were temporarily suspended on June 30th 1956. This programme is now being extended to include all children bom between the years 1947 and 1956. DOMIC HARY Mm.'IFERY AND NURSING- SERVICES. There are four District midwives/nurses operating in the Rural District, Due to the continued upward trend in the number of institutional confinements, there has been a decline in the calls made on the domiciliary midwife. Hospital confinement has become increasingly popular either for social, obstetric or financial reasons. This trend is cheaper likely to continue so long as it remains/for a mother to have her baby in hospital than at home. While the call on the domiciliary midwife has become less, there has been an increasing demand for the services of the District Nurse. Many of the district’s elderly are classified as chronic sick and under existing circumstances, it is extremely difficult to have them admitted to hospital. It is in this type of case more than any other that the work of the District Nurse has proved invaluable. In recent years, she has also been extremely useful in administering the necessary treatment to the Tuberculous case nursed at home. DOMESTIC HSU? SERVICE. The increasing demand on the services of the District Nurse has been coupled with a steady growth in the Horae Help Service. A very large percentage of the cases requiring home help in the Pontypool Rural District, are the chronic sick, who have no other person to give them the necessary domestic assistance. Due to the chronic nature of their illness, old age, unchanging home circumstances, most of our cases assisted in this way are long-standing, nevertheless, they are under constant review. Because of the few domiciliary confinements in the district, it follows that the maternity case seldom asks for Home Help. But there has been an increasing demand for such cases in the new town area of Croesycei]iogs There are approximately 65 Domestic Helps in the No. 10 Area 10 of which are employed in tjie Pontypool Rural District, All are engaged on a temporary part-time basis-