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Past failures to recruit a sufficient number of suitable persons
to act as foster mothers did not encourage the belief that the response
to an appeal for persons to enrol as daily minders would justify
a scheme for this analogous service, nor was it considered practicable
to arrange for a scheme of "sitters-in" or for the use of Infant Welfare
Centres as afternoon creches; consequently the Council decided
against promoting any of these proposed supplementary services.
On the other hand, a close scrutiny of all applications for
admission to the Nurseries was undertaken, and a scheme was adopted
which provided for a proportionate allocation of places to cases
falling within four priority categories as follows:-
1. Mothers employed in industries vital to production.
2. Widows, unmarried mothers and separated wives.
3. Insufficient Income.
4. Mothers who for some good reason were incapable of
undertaking the full care of their children.
The application of this Scheme deprived some children of a place
and let others in. It made no difference, however, to the length
of the waiting list for admission to the Nurseries, but the Scheme
has ensured an equitable distribution of the vacancies to applicants
most in need of the Service.
At the end of the year a propaganda campaign was conducted to
? suitable women to undertake Home and Domestic Help duties and
to bring to the notice of the public the provision of these Schemes.
posters were displayed throughout the Borough menbers of the
Public Health Committee addressed gatherings of women at Church
Institutes, Women's Guilds etc., in various parts of the Borough,
The Council also authorised payment to persons undertaking casual
employment as home or Domestic Helps of a retaining fee of 5/- per
1st available for, but not actually engaged in such duties.
These activities assisted in building up a team of workers for
vices which has enabled the Council to meet demands for help
in the home during the confinement of the mother and in specified
cases of illness of members of thhe family.
In March of the year under roview County Council's Mass
Miniature Radiography Unit was made available at the South-Eastern
L.C.C.Hospital for about three months for the examination of clerical
and industrial workers in the Borough, and it was requested that
arrangements be made for the examination of approximately 3,000 persons.
The total number of persons who availed themselves of the offer
was 2816 - 1506 men and 1310 women. The results of the examinations
showed that 21-8 men ( .53%) and 13 women - were found to be
probably suffering from tuberculosis were referred to their own
medical practitioners.
The sanitary administration of the Borough continued to maintain
a satisfactory level, although some difficulty was experienced by
landlords and builders in readily obtaining suitable and sufficient
materials. A return of work of the Council's Sanitary Inspectors
appears on page 8.
Finally, I wish to take the opportunity of once again recording
my appreciation of the support and consideration which I have received
from the Members of the Council, and expressing my thanks to the staff
of the Public health Department for the loyal assistance which they
have given me at all times.
Your obedient Servant,
H. W. BARNES.
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.