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19
DENTAL WORK.
The Eighth Annual Report of the Dental work of the Council shows that during the year
13,550 public elementary school children were dentally inspected as compared with 20,231 in the
previous year. 10,151 of these children were found to require treatment as compared with 14,192
in the previous year.
It is satisfactory to record that 4,384 attendances were made by children at the Authority's
Clinics for treatment in 1925 as compared with 2,148 such attendances in 1924.
It is further satisfactory to record that 22 per cent. of the defects followed up by the Health
Nurses were ascertained to have received treatment during the year as compared with only 11 per cent.
in 1924.
This percentage of children treated is likely to continue to increase under the new scheme of
dental inspection adopted by the Education Committee at its meeting on 3rd February, 1926, after
consideration of my report on the working of the dental scheme of October, 1924, appearing as
Appendix L to this report.
HOME NURSING SERVICE.
The Home Nurse employed by the Council nursed 332 cases during the year, and in connection
with such cases paid 3,407 visits. 602 of these visits were paid in the Mid-Kilburn Ward, 533 in the
Harlesden Ward, 472 in the Kensal Rise Ward, 461 in the South Kilburn Ward, 362 in the North
Kilburn Ward and smaller numbers in the other wards of Willesden.
Of the 332 cases nursed during the year, 325 were new cases. 103 of these 325 new cases were
referred by the Health Department for nursing, 31 by private doctors and 191 by Hospitals, Associations
and private persons.
During 1925, 688 visits were paid to cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum, as against 219 in 1924,
and 52 visits to Puerperal Fever as against 3 in 1924. Visits to measles numbered 86 in 1925 as against
65 in 1924, and to Whooping Cough 52 in 1925 against 5 in 1924. Circumcision cases referred from
Hospitals received 283 visits in 1925 as against 126 in 1924.
Throughout 1925 the Council's Home Nurse has had practically continuously cases of
Ophthalmia Neonatorum under treatment. It is unsatisfactory to discontinue the treatment of
such cases over the week ends, as during this interval much of the good result achieved during the
preceding week may be annulled and recovery thereby delayed. The Council has recognized this
and, in February, 1925, granted authority to the Medical Officer of Health to engage such extra
nursing assistance as and when, in his opinion, it might be necessary to cope with such cases. Assistance
has been engaged from time to time, but the difficulty of obtaining a suitable nurse practised
in this particular branch of nursing at short notice is considerable.
SANITARY WORK.
During 1925 two sanitary inspectors were added to the staff, making 10 in all. These additional
inspectors, however, did not come on duty until November, 1925.
During the year the total number of inspections and re-inspections made by the sanitary staff
was 18,595, as compared with 17,509 in the previous year.
The time of the sanitary inspectors becomes more and more occupied in endeavouring to secure
a reasonable standard of repair of dwelling houses. The statutes give only limited powers to the
Local Authority, and much time is occupied in endeavouring to persuade the persons on whom notices
have been served that it is necessary that such notices should be complied with. Nevertheless, good
work is being done, although the procedure is cumbersome and the time that elapses between the
service of a notice and compliance is in many instances over long.
I referred in my last Annual Report to the necessity for the extension of the definition of
" nuisances " for purposes of the Public Health Acts and of the powers of the Council in relation to
repairs to house property. It is hoped that in any extension or consolidation of the law relating to
Public Health these matters will receive attention. In accordance with the suggestion of the Ministry
of Health greater use has been made during the present year of Section 3 of the Housing Act, 1925,
but even this section is cumbersome in its working and, if the landlord is unwilling to comply with
notices served under this section, as much as twelve months may be occupied in giving effect to all
necessary legal formalities before the much needed repairs are carried out.
Twelve houses were closed as unfit for human habitation during the year, but in consequence
of the housing shortage and the inability of obtaining vacant possession these dwelling houses still
remained "closed," but in occupation at the end of the year.
The Public Health (Meat) Regulations which came into force on the 1st April, 1925, are gradu
ally being complied with by the meat traders in Willesden.
Cases of overcrowding not infrequently were brought to the notice of the Sanitary Inspectors
in the course of their duties. These cases were reported to the Council, but they have felt unable
to take action on account of the fact that alternative accommodation is not at present available.
MOTOR AMBULANCE SERVICE.
The Motor Ambulance Service now numbers 9 vehicles, 7 of these came into use in December
1913, 1 in April, 1924, and 1 in March, 1925.