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8
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The County Council which is the Authority has maintained
Clinics at the following centres :—
(i) Berther Road,
(ii) Elm Park.
(iii) Malvern Road.
(iv) Athelstan Road, Harold Wood.
(v) Rainham.
(vi) Upminster.
Hospital Services.
During the year 117 persons notified to be suffering from infections
diseases and 37 observation cases needing hospital treatment
were admitted to the Joint Isolation Hospital at Rush Green.
The average weekly number of patients from this District in
the Isolation Hospital was 11.
Supply of Insulin for Diabetics.
Reference was made in the Annual Report for the year 1943
to Circular '2734 dated 4th January, 1943, in which the Minister
of Health drew the attention of local authorities to the desirability
of providing insulin for certain classes of persons for whom a public
provision is necessary. These include old age pensioners, women
engaged in household duties, and other dependants who are not
eligible for medical benefit under the national health insurance acts.
In compliance with this letter the Council have exercised the
power given to them by consent or approval of the Ministry under
section 177 of the Public Health Act, 1936, to supply insulin for
persons suffering from diabetes among the poorer inhabitants of
the District. During the year 28 women were supplied with this
remedy, and of these 23 received free supplies and five at reduced
cost in accordance with the Council's scale. The majority of these
persons were elderly women. Every person applying for a grant
was required to furnish a medical prescription stating the variety
and amount of insulin to be used.
Water.
The water supply of the area and of its several parts has been
satisfactory both in quality and in quantity.
A piped supply of water is laid on to almost the whole of the
houses in the District, though private wells are still in use as
domestic supplies in some of the outlying areas.