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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Dagenham.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
For the first time I am able to submit, as I promised last year, a combined report
on the work of the Public Health, Area Health and School Health departments for the
year. This integration of the three has meant a good deal of extra work for the staff, as
the report is made up of various sections contributed by different members of the staff,
edited and collated to make the whole. I am grateful to the staff for their co-operation
and hope that the result is an easily assimilated picture of the health of the people of
Dagenham during 1957.
A start was made on the improvement and redecoration of the Ford Road dental
clinic and permission was given and money allocated to improve the rest of the premises.
I propose to make suggestions during 1958 to improve the Becontree Clinic so as to
bring it up to a higher standard.
The facilities for dental treatment were improved by the opening of Oxlow Lane
Clinic, which provided up to date premises for many of thefcvaried activities of a modern
public health department. An increased number of dental sessions was held, which
although very far short of what is needed, is a step in the right direction.
It gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction that I was able to put into effect an
ambition I have had for a number of years. In September the Oxlow Lane MedicoSocial
Assessment Centre was opened. There the over sixties are welcomed and encouraged
to talk about their difficulties—social, economic and medical, and are able to
have a general medical check up and advice about their many problems. I am indeed
grateful for the co-operation I have had from the general practitioners in this endeavour.
I would like to draw particular attention both to the survey of handicapped children
and to the detailed report on the pre-school handicapped for which Dr. Mair has been
responsible.
There was an increase in immunisation of children against diphtheria carried out in
the schools (1,890 in 1957 as against 826 in 1956). This was in great part due to Dr.
Mair's initiative. The organisation resulting in the increased number of home visits
paid by school nurses, largely in connection with the handicapped child has also been
her special care.
I have particular pleasure in drawing attention to the very successful Seminar on
Public Relations and the Health Department, held in December. The lecturers and the
course tutors were provided by the Central Council for Health Education, but much of
the responsibility for organising the seminar was carried by Mr. Prior. This entailed a
considerable amount of extra work.
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