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5
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District
Council of Dagenham.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to submit my report on the health and sanitary circumstances
of the district for the year 1931.
The year was, on the whole, a healthy one locally. The
incidence of diphtheria was low but of scarlet fever was slightly
higher than the rate obtaining in the rest of the country. There
were a number of cases of smallpox in the early months of the year
and an outbreak of whooping cough in the last few weeks exacted
its toll amongst infants. The cool summer was reflected in the
low prevalence of epidemic diarrhoea.
There were no marked developments in the health services
during the year, the most important features of advance being the
erection of premises of various kinds specially designed for the
health services. In January the local Out-Patient Department of
King George Hospital was opened. This is a building designed
so that one half is used for hospital purposes and one half for services
provided by the Urban District Council as Maternity and Child
Welfare Authority and the Essex County Council as Education and
Tuberculosis Authorities. In February, the accommodation of
Rush Green Isolation Hospital was extended, rendering available
greater facilities for the isolation and nursing of the infectious sick.
In May, York House, the home of the District Nurses, was opened,
and in July the extensions at King George Hospital, Ilford, were
formally opened. The provision of these additional beds at this
institution is a step towards meeting the needs for institutional
accommodation of this area.
As a result of the last census declaring the population to be
over 20,000, certain additional duties devolved on the Local
Authority; amongst these are the duties under the Shops Acts,
"ending the appointment of a special inspector for the purpose,
the work is being undertaken by the sanitary inspectors.
I desire to thank the members of the Council and administrative
staff for the help they have given me in the past year.
I have the honour to be,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
Public Health Offices, E. W. CARYL THOMAS.
Becontree Avenue,
Chadwell Heath.
* 28th April, 1932.