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Summary of Report on the Reorganisation of the Public Health Department,
etc., too ether with the Recommendations of the Council.
General.
1.—We have considered the proposals of the Medical Officer of Health as to economies
that can be effected in the administration of the work of the Public Health Department.
It is important to note that we " do not suggest that any part of the work at present
done in the Department should be discontinued, the suggestions made tending to economy
being obtained as a result of reorganisation only, and not by the omission of any useful
work."
Male Sanitary Inspectors.
2.—The Medical Officer of Health has suggested that inquiries into infectious diseases
should be carried out by the male sanitary staff, as was the practice prior to the war.
Dr. Sowden, in support of his suggestion, reports as follows: —
"At present certain of the women inspectors inquire into the illness, and the male
inspectors investigate the drains and sanitary condition of the house concerned.
This dual visiting is unnecessary, and not desirable from the householder's point of
view. This proposal, whilst not appreciably increasing the work of the male
inspectors, will result in a further advantage in epidemic times; during these periods
three or four women inspectors are overwhelmed by the large number of cases, but
when these are divided amongst the twelve male inspectors the situation is far more
manageable."
With regard to the districts of the male inspectors, the Medical Officer of Health
points out that the building of property in the Highgate district has increased during recent
years, and building is now taking place upon the Holly Lodge Estate, Highgate. Dr. Sowden
suggests that, the boundaries of the inspectors' districts should be revised, chiefly with a view
to the lessening in size of the Highgate district, which is at present too large in comparison
with the other districts.
We recommend—
(a) That in future the male sanitary inspectors inquire into cases of infectious
diseases, with the exception of tuberculosis, puerperal fever, and ophthalmia in babies —
the latter cases to be inquired into, as at present, by the women staff.
(b) That the Medical Officer of Health be authorised to revise the boundaries of
the districts of the male sanitary inspectors.
Women Sanitary Inspectors and Health Visitors.
3.—With reference to the work done by the women staff, the Medical Officer of Health
advise3 that Miss Bibby is fully occupied and should continue her present duties, as he finds
her services of the utmost value. As regards the work which should be done by the rest of
the women inspectors, Dr. Sowden considers that it should comprise the following:—Visiting
cases of tuberculosis, puerperal fever and ophthalmia in babies. 1 he inspection of outworkers
and home work where women are employed has not been carried out of late years, and
Dr. Sowden considers such inspections important and advises that they should be resumed.
Dr. Sowden states that the foregoing duties are essentially suitable for women visitors, and
suggests that the present practice of their each carrying out visits all over the Borough in
respect of one type of health work, which involves overlapping, should be discontinued, and
all visiting duties in Wards 1 to 4 should be carried out by one section of the women staff,
and similar duties in Wards 5 to 8 by another section.