View report page

5
Council Offices,
Erith.
April 20th, 1920.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Urban District Council of Erith.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit to you my Annual
Report for the year 1919, in accordance with the
Regulations of the Ministry of Health.
As you are aware I was absent on Military Service
for 4½ years from August, 1914, and I resumed my
appointment as your Medical Officer of Health and
School Medical Officer at the beginning of February,
1919, after demobilisation. I have to thank the Council
for keeping my appointment vacant for me during my
absence.
I found that there had been considerable development
in various directions in the work of my department.
The Maternity and Child Welfare work had
increased very much.
The Notification of Births Act had only been put
in force in the district for 4 months when I was called
up for Military Service in 1914, and there was only one
Health Visitor employed, and she devoted part of her
time to the duties of School Nurse. On my return 1
found that two Welfare Centres, and an antenatal
clinic were in full working order, and the staff employed
on them was a part time Lady Medical Officer, two
Health Visitors and a clerk. In the School Medical
service a similar expansion had taken place.
Your School Clinic, with departments for minor
Ailments, Dental and Ophthalmic work, was being
carried on by the Acting School Medical Officer, Dr. J.
Hardie, with a whole time School Nurse and a records
clerk.