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attributable to general nutrition, to housing conditions, or to the
shortage of beds in sanatoria it would be premature to hazard a
definite opinion; but there can be no doubt that tuberculosis
infection is spread by persons suffering from the disease in an active
form, and that such persons in the home are a constant source of
danger to all members of the household. For that reason every
effort should be made either to increase the accommodation
available in sanatoria or hospitals, or to provide alternative housing
accommodation or portable outdoor huts for infectious cases for
whom institutional treatment is not available. The excellent results
of the French "Grancher System" whereby infants and young
children are removed at once from infectious tuberculous parents,
justify urgent consideration being given to the need for increasing
—under the provisions of the Children Act, 1948—the boarding-out
accommodation available for young children from tuberculousinfected
households.
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT, 1946.
On "the appointed day" (5th July, 1948) there came into
being the above Act—the greatest and most comprehensive scheme
of public medical provision ever to be put into operation in any
country. Under the provisions of that Act all residents in Great
Britain (as well as temporary residents from abroad) of whatever
age or income level, are entitled to free medical attention and
treatment either at home or in hospital. Some idea of the comprehensive
medical and ancillary services available may be obtained
by reference to page 57.
Under the provisions of this Act the Leyton Welfare Authority,
and the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, ceased to function
as such on 4th July, 1948; and on the following day the County
Council became responsible for the administration and control of
all services outlined in Part III of the Act, i.e., midwifery, maternity
and child welfare, health visiting, home nursing, a priority dental
service for expectant and nursing mothers and children, domestic
help when needed on health grounds, vaccination and immunisation
against infectious diseases, additional special care and after-care
in cases of illness, ambulance services, blood transfusion and
laboratory services.
Previously Essex County Council had decided to decentralise
the administration of all services included in Part III of the Act to
Leyton Health Area Sub-Committee and their officers; so that,
on the appointed day (5th July, 1948), the routine day-to-day