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The Clean Food Campaign is not pressed forward vigorously
enough and has not got down to the root of the problem yet.
Smallpox.—The rate of vaccination against Smallpox is very
unsatisfactory. The number vaccinated is by no means sufficient
to prevent serious trouble in the event of an outbreak. The
prejudice against smallpox vaccination so much in evidence some
years ago has not yet been overcome.
General Practice.—A great and appreciable service is rendered
by the General Practitioners to the people of Edmonton.
They have always been in every way a co-operative body. This
co-operation is very much appreciated by your Public Health
Department, and on the other hand the Department does everything
possible to reciprocate.
The policy of your Public Health Department will continue to
develop this co-operation and if possible to improve on it.
At the inception of the National Health Service Act, it was
thought that greater facilities would come directly to the assistance
of the General Practitioner in order that he may give a better service
to his patients in their own homes. There does not seem to be any
fulfilment of this expectation; no further efforts are made to bring
diagnostic facilities nearer to the General Practitioner or to offer
him post-graduate lectures to increase his knowledge for the benefit
of his patients; the obtaining of a second opinion by the dissatisfied
patient is lacking. To the enterprising General Practitioner
this avenue is open, but frequently he is too busy and in some
cases does not appreciate the nature of the case until it is too late.
A second opinion is very much needed as an automatic process
in the needs of the patient.
Maternity.—It oftens happens that the doctor booked for a
confinement by a patient is not present at any part of the confinement,
but leaves the onus of the case on the midwife; the
practitioner is, nevertheless, paid. This practice is on the increase
and payment, or part of it, should be withheld if the doctor is
not present at some part of the confinement.
Mentally III and Educationally Sub-normal.—A brief
word concerning educationally sub-normal children.
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