View report page

During 1958, the Borough Council agreed to the appointment of an additional
public health inspector to co-ordinate health education activities in the Borough and to
undertake special investigations into any environmental problems which might arise.
It is my earnest hope that a suitable person will be appointed during 1959 so that we can
make a start on organised courses on health instead of the disjointed efforts which
limitation of staff imposes upon us at present.
The formation of a Home Safety Advisory Committee during 1958 appears to have
passed almost unnoticed by the public and the attendances at the committee meetings
were disappointing, consisting as they did of the 'faithful few'! Perhaps a few tragic
and serious home accidents are needed before public interest can be aroused in this
vital subject. I am sure it is not appreciated that more deaths occur and more suffering
is caused by accidents in the home than on the roads.
The Clean Air Act of 1956 created a good deal of extra work for the public health
inspectors in general and for Mr. Prior in particular. Education is vital to the success
of the Council's scheme to make Marks Gate housing estate the first smoke control
area in the Borough, and Mr. Prior and his staff have risen nobly to the task.
I would also like to draw attention to the considerable amount of work entailed
by food and drugs sampling which goes on quietly year in and year out and is so vital
to the safeguarding of food supplies to the public.
During the year, one lady who was severely crippled had to be removed to hospital
under the provisions of Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948. This was a
most distressing case and was dealt with very reluctantly by the staff concerned. The
chief public health inspector, the home help organiser, the health visitor and the near
neighbours of the patient, co-operated with the hospital and ambulance service in carrying
out what is always, on the very rare occasions it is necessary, a most disagreeable
duty.
The unauthorised parking of caravans by gypsies caused a good deal of trouble
during the year and Mr. Prior accepted the difficult job of dealing with them on a number
of occasions.
Mrs. Bedford and Mrs. Goodbun both retired from the midwifery service during
the year. They had both been with the service for many years, Mrs. Bedford for 20
and Mrs. Goodbun for 16, and both will be greatly missed.
Mrs. Bedford particularly left a big gap in the ranks and although an arrangement
was made with Ilford to share the services of Miss Jesson, the non-medical supervisor,
the arrangements cannot be so satisfactory as when Mrs. Bedford acted as senior midwife
and gave detailed supervision and guidance. The appointment of a supervisor
(or a senior midwife) for Dagenham may have to be given consideration during 1959,
after the recommendations of the Report of the Maternity Services Committee (The
Cranbrook Report) are published, if the domiciliary midwifery service is to function
satisfactorily.
10