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7
tinue the treatment of most infectious diseases in the home
owing to the acute shortage of hospital beds. The more serious
of the infections, however, such as Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever
and Poliomyelitis are admitted to hospital on notification.
During the year a limited amount of new housing accommodation
has been made available but with the present rate
of progress in the provision of houses it will be a number of
years before the needs in this respect will be adequately met.
Owing to the presence of old, outmoded property in this district
complaints by occupiers have continued to be particularly
high. The staff of Sanitary Inspectors during the year was
reduced in number owing to resignations but working under
pressure 15,506 inspections and 8,846 re-inspections were
carried out. As in previous years delays and disappointments
occurred in the abatement of housing defects owing to the
continued shortage of materials and of skilled labour.
The Public Health Services and the Maternity and Child
Welfare Service were maintained satisfactorily throughout the
year. It is noteworthy that this will be the last complete year
during which the Borough Council will be responsible for the
personal health services in the Borough. The National Health
Service Act of 1946 transfers these services to the care of the
London County Council as from the 5th July, 1948, and these
will be administered through the Divisional Health Committee
in combination with the City of London and the Boroughs of
Poplar and Stepney. Opportunity will still be available to
the local council through their representatives on the
Divisional Health Committee to voice their opinion on the
form and development of these services in *heir locality in
the future. It is hoped that the London County Council in
their new-found responsibilities will be in a position to provide
this area in the near future with a modern comprehensive
health centre in which an efficient and complete health service
will be available. The Day Nurseries have continued their
work well throughout the year and by the use of part-time
workers many more children have been admitted. The
demand for places has not abated and there is still a waiting
list of considerable size. The priority system of admission
has worked satisfactorily throughout the year and no criticism