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4.
A further fall in the infant mortality figures is gratifying;
it now approximates to that of tho figure for England and Wales.
Having regard to local conditions, our expectations have been exceeded
but there is still room for improvement.
In the main there was a fall in the number of notifications of
infectious disease, whooping cough being the exception. Diphtheria
caused no deaths, giving encouragement to those engaged in the
immunisation campaign which has been continued during the year.
Wartime nurseries continued to operate during the year, although
Claremont Nursery was closed during the year, mainly because of the
small attendance due to the flying bomb activity. It was found necessary •
to open the new nursery at Donegal Street with accommodation for 65 - 71
children. Staffing difficulties were as acute as ever during 1944,
and were only overcome by tho enthusiasm shown by the staff themselves.
A slight drop in the total attendance figures at the Health
Centre Clinics was due to the flying bomb attacks which caused a
considerable number of cancelled appointments, particularly in elderly
and cripple people, but the clinics continued to be popular, the dental
and foot clinics showing en increase over 1943.
The number of verminous cases rose from 158 in 1943 to 293 in
1944. Almost all the cases were of head infestation and the majority
occurred in adolescent girls in industry. A close liason is maintained
with factory doctors and a system of home follow-up sometimes reveals a
source of infection in the home. This method of treating the family as
a unit is found to give-results of greater permanance than treating
individual cases as they occur.
Housing became a greater problem as a result of destruction by
flying bombs. Comment is made on this question in the Housing Section
of the report. It is my intention to review the position in a
comprehensive manner when the final war-damage data are available.
Finally I wish to thank the members of the Public Health and
maternity and Child Welfare Committees for their kind assistance and
helpful suggestions during the year and to thank the loyal members of my
staff who overcame the problems of this most difficult year of the war.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient servant.
A. B.STEWART
Acting Medical Officer of Health