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Advice on the pointing of medical conditions, including Tuberculosis,
advanced by applicants with medical certificates, for prior consideration
on the Council's Housing and re-housing lists is another
function of the Health Department.
Liaison with the Housing Manager, the County District Officer,
medical practitioners or hospitals was necessary in dealing with a
variety of borderline problems relating to old houses, elderly persons,
problem families, mental and moral defectives, and alleged sanitary
nuisances.
One of the most difficult problems to solve is how to ameliorate the
conditions under which some old persons live. It is especially difficult
to determine their needs when they become infirm in their own homes.
In sickness the responsibility lies with the medical practitioner and the
geriatric services of the hospital. In infirmity, the Medical Officer of
the local authority is approached, when, for various reasons the welfare
authority cannot deal with the problem. Visits by Inspectors or by the
Medical Officer are often necessary and this work is too varied and
detailed to be easily reported by a single table in this Annual Report.
The admirable assistance given by the W.V.S. to old people known
to their workers is covered by the report of the area organiser. One of
the problems that must remain is to hear of all old people, many of whom
prefer to remain anonymous for fear of drastic official action entering
into their lives and homes.
During the year the Council were informed of proposed changes,
subject to review, by the County Council on the advice of the County
Medical Officer in the scheme of daily minding.
They were also informed of changes brought about by new Public
Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations applying to Typhoid Fever,
Paratyphoid Fever, Dysentery, and staphylococcal Food Poisoning in
connection with food trades, to enable the Medical Officer to take more
immediate action.
The difficulty still remains that only sick persons are legally
notifiable to the Medical Officer so reliance must still be on the good
faith of persons connected with the food trade to stay off work if, though
recovered, they may be carrying infection until necessary examinations
have proved them free from infection. One still finds most causes of
food poisoning in disease of animals or disease of food handlers.
In conclusion, I again wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr.
Elliott, the County Medical Officer of Health, and to Dr. Ward of the
County Staff.
Despite quite a few changes on the staff, the work of the Health
Department has been maintained with undiminished zeal for which I
offer my thanks.
To you, and Members of the Health Committee, my appreciation
is due for your understanding of health problems of the Borough and
for your continued encouragement to myself and members of my staff
L. R. L. EDWARDS,
Medical Officer of Health.
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