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INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The following notifications were received during the year:-
Measles 861
Tuberculosis: Respiratory 27)
Non-Respiratory 4) 31
Whooping Cough 70
Scarlet Fever 45
Pneumonia 19
Puerperal Pyrexia 5
Food Poisoning -
Dysentery 20
Meningoccal Infection -
Scabies 1
Erysipelas 3
Ophthalmia Neonatorum 1
It is pleasing to note that not one single case of poliomyelitis
was notified for the fourth consecutive year.
1963 proved to be c "Measles" year with a figure of 861 notifications
compared with 135 the previous year. Fortunately, however,
except in a 'ew isolated cases the disease was comparatively mild.
CARE OF THE AGED
The increasing proportion of the aged in Barking is becoming
more and more of a problem.
Hospital accommodation and accommodation with partial care is
still hopelessly inadequate, and although in this area we are
fortunate in having two all-day centres, plus a large number of clubs
which are open at least two afternoons a week, there is a lot more
Quiring to be done.
Mayesbrook, the Home for 62 elderly persons, continues to cope
odequately for its residents, by the provision of such is not the
answer for everyone. We must endeavour to increase and supplement
the do miciliary services and keep as many people in their own homes
as we can - the extension of the Home Help Service, the introduction
of the Good Neighbours service in the days of the future, even
o'putting to bed1 service for the old folk, complete with a hot night
drink if necessary. As always, it is the difficulty of recruitment of
able folk to do it. Why not recruit a few men of moderate age to
3this for their own sex? There may be many men (65-70) who would
"•happy to help their older brethren.
19