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will be required, and 5 more dentists and dental attendants. It
is impossible to say what effect the dental and other provisions of
the National Health Service Act, will have on the School Medical
Service. If and when Health Centres are established it would be
advantageous for a portion of the Centre to be allocated to School
Clinics. This might result in a closer contact being reached
between the general medical practitioner and the school medical
staff.
The general overall picture presented of the health of the
borough shows that, although there has been no very obvious
deterioration, there has certainly not been any improvement. A
delicate indicator of health, namely, the Infantile Mortality rate,
shows an increase in this mortality, though even with the
increase it is still much below the average before 1938.
As has been mentioned in previous reports, although the
health and general nutritional standards of young children and
of expectant mothers have been well maintained, there is evidence
to show that the general population outside these two special
categories is suffering from a degree of under-nutrition. This
leads to a disinclination for effort, and a readier susceptibility to
chance infections. So long as the existing restrictions upon food
remain, with the consequent impossibility of obtaining a varied
diet, it is to be feared that the maximum effort called for so
insistently by politicians, will not be forthcoming
In conclusion, I wish to tender my thanks to you, Mr.
Chairman, and the members of the Health Committee for your
encouragement and support, and to the staff of the department for
their co-operation and help and for the consistently worthy
manner in which they have carried out their duties.
I am,
Yours faithfully,
OSCAR M. HOLDEN,
Medical Officer of Health.