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In the summer of the same year a "Health and Infant
Welfare" Week was held, at which suitable films were displayed
and popular lectures delivered by competent speakers. This
exhibition, in addition to being very attractive on the commercial
side, was supported by the Health and Cleanliness
Council, British Social Hygiene Council, Dental Board of the
United Kingdom, National Milk Publicity Council, College of
Pestology, etc., all of whom contributed interesting exhibits.
From 1st July, 1927, under the new Births and Deaths
Registration Act of 1926, medical practitioners were required
to deliver the new style death certificate to the Registrar direct,
and registration of Stillbirths became compulsory.
In January, 1928, the level of the Thames rose 18ft. 5ins.
above datum line, with the result that a considerable proportion
of the Borough adjacent to the river bank was flooded to a
depth of several feet. Happily no cases were recorded of
persons having been drowned but the inundation caused considerable
damage to property, furniture, bedding, etc. The
Public Health Department was given the task of visiting and
estimating the damage sustained in the various areas in order
that the "Flood Fund" could be correctly allocated.
During this same year the Tuberculosis Handicraft Hut
and classes were opened, the Greenwich edition of the journal
"Better Health" was introduced and in July registration of all
Nursing Homes was compelled.
Another "Health Week" was held in June, 1929, at the
Borough Hall and this again achieved remarkable success. The
Local Government Act of this year which became operative in
April, 1930, gave greater freedom in the administration of the
Health Services and an important provision was the substitution
of block grants for percentage grants. Another important
feature was that under the provisions of this Act, control of
hospitals directly supported by rates was vested in the London
County Council. A differential rent scheme for the benefit of
large poor families was commended to the Council without
result.
In November, 1930, a new Welfare Clinic was opened at
105 Shooter's Hill Road and the Council introduced a scheme
for the supply, at reduced cost, of sterilised maternity outfits
for home confinements. A Ministry of Health Memorandum
issued in the same year recommended the introduction of Birth
Control Clinics for cases where control was advised on medical
grounds.