View report page

definite opinion that an employer would wish to know, namely,
as to how much work a given patient would be able to do in a day,
and the kind that will do him no harm.
The question of dental treatment was brought up to the Public
Health Committee by myself, and information was collected as to
the possibilities; it was, however, adjourned indefinitely.
No arrangements have been made by the Council for nursing,
or the provision of extra nourishment.
The main difficulties that have arisen have been those due to
the lack of accommodation. This applies especially to the poorer
class, many of whom are in houses not overcrowded for people in
full health, but entirely unsuitable for conditions of disease. It has
not always been a question of inability to pay for more accommodation,
but rather the difficulty in finding a place where a large family
is not considered a drawback. This lack of houses applies in a
special sense to those who have been away in a sanatorium, and
have to return to unsuitable conditions.
In consequence of apprehended difficulty in continuing the
tenancy of the dispensary in Brunswick Square, the Committee
considered the Utility of a house in the immediate neighbourhood
Which belonged to the Council. In justice to myself I have to
remark that the Selection and recommendation neither emanated
from nor were approved of by me; moreover, its consideration
was mainly responsible for the adjournment of the question of
the provision for dental treatment.
The number of cases attending the dispensary in 1920 was (a),
insured 1,116; (b) uninsured 2,442; (c) contacts examined 1,206.
There were 52 deaths reported from phthisis, of whose existence
we only became aware of through seeing the entry in the death
returns, and 46 from other forms of tuberculosis.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The grants in the following instances have been increased, that
of St. Luke's from £150 to £350, of the United Girls' School Settlement
from £150 to £350, of the Nunhead Centre from £150 to
£200, of the Cambridge House from £125 to £150, and that of the
Bird-in-Bush Centre from £100 to £150. The grant to the Peckham
Day Nursery was not renewed, but one of £30 for the Cheltenham
College Day Nursery was sanctioned.
There is no change to report in the way of provision of lying-in
homes beyond the three mentioned below, which are designed for
the reception of unmarried mothers—The Moorings, Champion
Park; Home of Hope, Grove Lane; 24, De Crespigny Park, and
also the Home of Help, Camberwell Grove, for the mother and her
infant. Although no other provision has as yet been made, several
homes were surveyed, but for one reason or another were not
considered suitable.
From the figures given above it will be seen that there is a very
great increase from 1919 to 1920 in the work carried out, and I see