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5
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban
District Council of Dagenham.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to submit herewith my Annual Report on the
Health of Dagenham for the year 1935. By direction
of the Minister of Health, this is again an " Ordinary
Report " limited to a record of alterations, improvements
and developments which have taken place during
the year under review.
Perhaps the most striking feature is the low
incidence of maternal mortality, only one maternal
death occurred, giving a rate of 0.52 per thousand total
births compared with 3.93 for the country as a whole.
The general death rate of 5.63 is the lowest ever
recorded in this district, and is less than half of that for
England and Wales.
With regard to alterations in staffing arrangements,
it will be remembered that Dr. C. Huss was appointed
as an additional whole-time Assistant Medical Officer;
he also undertakes the duties of Deputy Medical Officer
of Health. Our thanks are due to the part-time
Assistant Medical Officers whose services terminated on
the appointment of Dr. Huss.
I would invite attention to the desirability of an
increase in the attendance of mothers for post-natal
examination. I have referred in my report to the
beneficial results which accrue therefrom. This may be
regarded as public health work of the highest importance,
which, unlike some of our activities, shows results which
are readily apparent.