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Routine investigations were also made by the Assistant Medical
Officer, when notices were given by the Midwives in Romford as to
their liability to be a source of infection, by reason of attendance on
patients who had developed a rise of temperature, indicating puerperal
pyrexia, or where babies showed a rash, or discharges from
the eyes. Reports of the results of these investigations were forwarded
to the County Medical Officer.
(ix) Home and Domestic Helps.
These services, hitherto administered as two separate schemes,
have now been amalgamated, and are supervised by an Organiser,
working under the control of the Public Health Department. This
has enabled a better service to be provided, and a better recruitment
of Helpers. The Organiser, on taking up duties, was introduced to
a representative gathering of Women's Organisations in the town,
and an important part of her work is to give personal interviews
at the homes of the helpers, and also at the homes of the recipients
of the service. This is very much appreciated by both parties, as
difficulties on both sides have been smoothed out, although, on the
whole, these difficulties have been of a minor character.
This combined scheme was the outcome of Ministry of Health
Circular 110/46. and the full details, as applicable to Romford,
received the approval of the Minister of Health during the month of
March.
(x) Day Nurseries.
The 3 Day Nurseries were retained during the year, and continued
to be of service to those Mothers who, of necessity, had to
go out to work, or who, by reason of illness, could not properly give
attention to their young children.
This year there has been a great demand for admissions, and it
has been necessary to maintain a waiting list for each Nursery.
There has again been the usual difficulty of maintaining a
sufficient staff, and, at no time has the staff reached full establishment,
but co-operation and goodwill have overcome many of those
difficulties.
Unfortunately, one of the Nurseries was broken into on several
occasions, and, apart from the loss of equipment, it was very disheartening
for the staff to find such an upheaval in the early hours
of the morning.
In accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 119/47,
arrangements were made to supply drinking milk, free of charge,
as from 1st July, to each of the Nurseries, and the amount available
for this purpose is § of a pint per child per day. Cod Liver Oil
Compound has also been made available, free of charge, at the
rate of 1 × 6 ounce bottle per child per 12 weeks.