[Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Falkirk Burgh.

  • Falkirk (Scotland). Burgh Council.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Falkirk Burgh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICE The Nursing Service under the direction of Miss Stewart, the Nursing Superintendent is efficiently administered. The Nursing Report for 1951 indicates the amount of work that is carried out by the Nursing Staff and I cannot express too highly my appreciation of the co-operation which I receive from the members of the Service. The appointment of an Assistant Superintendent permits of a sharing of the duties of administration especially now that the School Medical Service has been added to the Nursing Service. During 1951 the Nurses Home at Craigenhall was completed and occupied. This Home has accommodation for 13 Nursing Sisters and a Resident cook. It is pleasantly situated and is near-by the main bus route. It is perhaps a pity that accommodation was not available for the entire staff but perhaps the future will permit us to extend the exist- ing home to provide accommodation for all under one roof. DAY NURSERIES The three day Nurseries continue to provide accommodation for 120 children. The attendance at the Nurseries has varied considerably during the past year owing to epidemics of Dysentery, Chickenpox, Mumps, etc. There has been of course, a considerable amount of discussion as to the continuance of those Nurseries but there is little doubt that they serve a most useful adjunct to the Child Welfare Service and I should very much like to see the existing Nurseries extended and the accommodation increased to provide more places for children. Each Nursery has a Waiting List and although their original purpose was to provide accommodation and supervision for children under school age, while the mother was working, nowadays with housing conditions as they are the safety of the children is a factor which cannot be over-looked. Apart from everything else, it is good for children to mix together in the atmosphere of the Nurseries and they acquire at an early age the spirit of communal play which serves well in future years. MILK SUPPLY A review of the milk supply was made during the latter part of 1951 and it was decided then that the supply of milk should be modified. This is being done and while it is kept in mind that the supply of milk to cases of tuberculosis is of the utmost importance, the co-operation of the patients is earnestly sought so that the Scheme is not exploited. HEALTH EDUCATION In connection with the Festival of Britain an exhibition was held in the Town Hall from the 15th September to 22nd September. Through the kindness and co-operation of the Scottish Council for Health Education a very effective display was presented. Photographs of the stand are included in this report.