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6
The many cases of overcrowding are, of course, well known to the
department and endeavours to assist those most affected are constantly
being made. It is scarcely necessary to point out, however, that the
remedy is not entirely in our hands.
SCHOOL
MEDICAL
SERVICE.
This Council, being an "Excepted District"
under the Education Act, 1944, has now assumed,
with some limitations, administrative responsibility
for the School Medical Service. The
limiting factors are firstly that certain functions are retained by the
Essex Education Committee and secondly that staff is not yet fully
adequate to deal with the number of children within the Borough. The
Medical Officer of Health has been designated "Borough School Medical
Officer" and in addition there are three Assistant School Medical
Officers who give the greater part of their time to work in Dagenham.
It is hoped that in the future it will be possible to integrate more
closely the work of the medical and nursing personnel with a view to
the same individuals having supervision of children from the ante-natal
stage to the school leaving age. At the present time this is not possible
owing to the fact that some members of the nursing staff do not possess
the qualifications required by the Ministry of Health to enable them to
undertake health visiting duties. One of the serious gaps in the
organisation is the lack of Dental Officers. The school population which
is upwards of 18,000 requires the services of approximately nine wholetime
Dental Surgeons. At the moment there is only one, the consequence
being that he is only able to touch the fringe of the problem.
Dagenham is not, however, peculiar in this respect, as most other
authorities are suffering from a shortage of dental personnel.
STAFF.
I am pleased to say that all members of the
Public Health Department have now been
released from the Services. I would, however, mention that Mrs.
B. E. E. Denny, who has acted as senior clerk in this department since
its inception, has now retired. Mrs. Denny saw the department grow
from its infancy to its present dimensions. I fell sure the Committee
will share with me in wishing Mrs. Denny a long and happy retirement.
In conclusion I offer my best thanks to the Chairman and members
of the Health Services Committee and to other members of the Council
for their help and interest, and also to the members of the staff of this
department for their valued assistance and loyal support during the
year.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
CECIL HERINGTON,
Public Health Department, Medical Officer of Health.
Civic Centre,
Dagenham.