[Report 1963] / Medical Officer of Health, Lincoln City.

  • Lincoln (England). City Council.
Date:
1963
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1963] / Medical Officer of Health, Lincoln City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    should preferably be given during the second year of life. It is hoped that the new policy will not result in a considerable fall in the number of children vaccinated but it is feared that this may well be the case. Sabin Oral vaccine has almost entirely replaced Salk vaccine for Polio¬ myelitis prophylaxis. The table in the report shows that approximately 74% of children in Lincoln had been vaccinated by the time they reached the age of 3 years and 63% at the age of 2 years. This proportion is less than the proportion of children who were vaccinated during times when Poliomyelitis was prevalent and it is possible, now that the disease is uncommon, that parents will be less conscientious about having their children vaccinated. In the absence of the disease, the situation will be very like that regarding Diphtheria Immunisation where active steps have to be taken to encourage parents to have their children protected. The scheme continued during the year for the immunisation at home of those children whose parents had, for a variety of reasons, neglected to have their children immunised. Care has to be taken that this service is limited as it is time consuming for doctors and health visitors. Apart from the expected Measles epidemic, 1963 was remarkably free from infectious disease. The Ambulance Service transferred to the new premises in South Park Avenue on 8th June, 1963. The new Station provides much better facilities for the administrative staff and drivers and also incomparably better garage facilities for the vehicles. As from 1st April, 1963, the Kesteven County Council undertook responsi¬ bility for that part of their own area previously served by the Lincoln Ambu¬ lance Authority on an agency basis. Prior to this date, approximately 25% of the patients carried were Kesteven residents; however, a considerable increase in the number of Lincoln patients conveyed in recent years continued during 1963 and towards the end of the year it was apparent that the expected re¬ duction in the total patients carried would not materialise. It is regretted that the Chiropody Service was unable to deal adequately with the many requests for treatment that were made. The interval between treatments increased to approximately twelve weeks for clinic patients and this is much longer than is desirable. It was therefore necessary to recommend to the Health Committee that an additional Chiropodist should be appointed in the next financial year and this recommendation having been agreed to, it is hoped that the Service will be more satisfactory next year. There were few major developments in the Mental Health Service and the new Adult Training Centre which is being built in Long Leys Road will not be completed until August, 1964. However, in spite of the overcrowding at the existing Centre at “Beaumont House,” it was possible to introduce new activities for the adults and, apart from meal times, to separate the children from the adults. These changes will facilitate the transfer to the new Adult Training Centre. Hostel accommodation has not yet been provided in the City, although some progress was made and it is hoped that a Hostel will be available for use late in 1964. The Health Education programme continued as in previous years with the Health Visitors being responsible for most of the work. An increased effort was made in the Schools to draw the attention of the senior pupils to the