Report of the Commission of Public Health to the Minister of Public Health / Department of Public Health, Victoria.

  • Victoria. Commission of Public Health.
Date:
[1962]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Commission of Public Health to the Minister of Public Health / Department of Public Health, Victoria. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Notifications each calendar year over the last six years are as follows :—- 1956 1957 . 1958 1959 . 1960 1961 1962 (to 30th June, 1962) . 252 . 12 . 60 . 30 . 23 . 68 . 13 After-care of Poliomyelitis Patients. Referrals from private practitioners which include Multiple Sclerosis and other chronic neurological diseases continue to increase and there are now 1,776 patients under treatment. Over the past twelve months there were 2,500 medical consultations at 90 metro¬ politan clinics and 1,838 at 75 country clinics. As at the 30th June, 1962, there were 20 physiotherapists and 9 physiotherapy assistants in the Division providing physiotherapy at Lady Dugan Red Cross Home, Fair- field Hospital and an itinerant service throughout the State. Sixteen wheelchairs and three hydraulic hoists are available for loan to patients. The hydraulic hoists have been purchased for loan in instances wThere the care of a patient at home involves heavy nursing particularly where the relative is old or infirm. The supply of these hoists has enabled the patients to be cared for at home, otherwise some institutional care would have to be provided for them. The Lady Dugan Red Cross Home continues to provide in-patient and out-patient facilities for poliomyelitis aftercare. 360 patients were admitted for periods up to six weeks during the past year and 810 out-patient treatments were carried out. During the year 26 patients received out-patient treatment at the Rehabilitation Centre at Fairfield Hospital, the majority of them attending the centre two to three times a week. Transport for these patients from their homes to the hospital is provided by the hospital. Poliomyelitis Vaccine. Salk.—Following the breakdown of supplies of Salk Vaccine in December, 1960, it again became available in August, 1961, and since last December all requests for vaccine have been fulfilled. Over the last six months the supply of the vaccine to Municipal Councils has averaged 11,200 doses per week. The success of the Salk Vaccine is evident from the low number of cases that have occurred since its introduction in the latter half of 1956. None of the 21 cases in 1961-62 had completed a course of Salk vaccination. Sabin (Oral Vaccine).—The Commission endorses a recommendation by the National Health and Medical Research Council that “ supplies of Sabin Vaccine should be imported as soon as possible, to be available either for use in possible emergency or for any pilot studies on administrative procedures that may be called for.” In the event of an emergency such as epidemic, Sabin Vaccine would be available for administration orally. 8852/62.-2