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7
The existing Tuberculosis Care Committee has been in
operation for very many years, but it is contemplated that this
Committee shall be re-grouped and that there will be some changes
in its personnel and secretariat. Garden shelters for persons
suffering from certain forms of Tuberculosis are at present stored
by the County Council but arrangements are being made for a
quota of shelters to be stored in the area and for these to be
erected, dismantled and maintained locally.
DOMESTIC A Home Help Organiser was appointed
HELP. and took up duty in April, 1947.
vision has been made for six whole-time
domestic helps, at the time of writing four are employed. In
addition there are 65 part-time helps who each undertake an
average of 25 hours of duty per week. The average number of
householders helped per week is 49. Up to date it has been possible
to meet every demand for this service, but in a minority of cases
there has, of necessity, been a slight delay in supplying the help
required. Arrangements are in hand for the National Institute of
Houseworkers to examine certain selected Home Helps with a view
to conferring upon them a diploma of proficiency. The successful
candidates will be rewarded by a slight increase in the normal
hourly rate of wage.
GASTRO-ENTERITIS. There were two explosive outbreaks of
Enteritis during November within a
period of nine days; the food was supplied from the same canteen
in both instances. The first outbreak occurred at schools situate
in a neighbouring area. Meals were supplied from a canteen in
this Borough. 532 dinners were served and 324 diners complained
of diarrhœa; all had completely recovered within 48 hours. The
second outbreak occurred at the canteen itself. 320 dinners were
served and 55 diners complained of diarrhoea.
Minced meat was the suspected food in both outbreaks. In
the second outbreak scraps from five dinners, together with some
minced meat, were submitted for examination but no pathogenic
organisms were isolated.
I visited the canteen with the Chief Sanitary Inspector and
carried out an investigation, including the processes adopted in
the cooking of the various items of food. Advice was given in
respect of minced meat to ensure that during cooking a temperature
sufficient to kill pathogenic organisms would be maintained. These
nstructions have been followed and there has been no further
trouble.
I am pleased once more to record my appreciation of the
services of all members of the Public Health Department who have