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28 per cent, of the defects followed up by the Health Nurses were ascertained to have received
treatment during the year as compared with 22 per cent. in 1925 and 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 my report for 1925.
HOME NURSING SERVICE.
The Home Nurse employed by the Council nursed 310 cases during the year, and in connection
with such cases paid 2,635 visits. 570 of these visits were paid in the Kensal Rise Ward, 455 in the
South Kilburn Ward, 341 in the Mid Kilburn Ward, 306 in the Stonebridge Ward, 286 in the Harlesden
Ward, 219 in the North Kilburn Ward and smaller numbers in the other wards of Willesden.
Of the 310 cases nursed during the year, 303 were new cases. 108 of these 303 new cases were
referred by the Health Department for nursing, 32 by private doctors and 163 by Hospitals, Associations
and private persons.
Circumcision cases referred from Hospitals received 227 visits.
SANITARY WORK.
The total number of houses in Willesden at the end of 1926 was 25,357.
During the year the total number of inspections and reinspections made by the Sanitary
Staff was 25,323, as compared with 18,595 in 1925. This increase is appreciable when taking into
consideration that although two additional inspectors commenced duty in November, 1925, there
was no Chief Sanitary Inspector for a period of six months.
Greater use is being made of Section 3, Housing Act, 1925, as indicated in the tabular statement
of housing statistics, but much time is lost in dealing with the disputatious owner. The delay is
occasioned by advertising for tenders, reporting to Committee and then Council for acceptance.
During this period the owner obtains information as to progress from the published Council agenda,
and by the time the contractor is ready to carry out his contract the owner by doing some of the work
modifies the schedule to such an extent as to necessitate further inspections, the preparation of a
fresh schedule of works to be done, and consequently an amended estimate.
Twelve houses closed as unfit for human habitation during 1925 are still in occupation. Of
two houses closed this year one is vacant and the other still occupied, although there is a prospect of
obtaining possession in the near future.
Good work has been done under the Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924, 1,783 special
inspections having been made. One prosecution under these Regulations had a salutary effect.
The trade generally have carried out improvements to their premises. Nearly all shops are now
provided with glass windows, but certain traders in Willesden not unnaturally take exception to the
non-observance of the regulations by traders in contiguous districts.
MOTOR AMBULANCE SERVICE.
The Motor Ambulance Service now numbers 10 vehicles, seven of which came into use in December,
1923, one in April, 1924, one in March, 1925, and one in July, 1925. These vehicles qpvered a
total of 87,030 miles during the year ended March, 1926. During the same period 2,597 calls for abulances
were answered. Five of the seven vehicles which came into use in December, 1913, have
covered more than 100,000 miles each and require to be replaced, especially as the demands on the
service are increasing and the necessary repairs to these old vehicles keep them longer and longer
off the road.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
110,787 meals have been supplied during the year to school children. The arrangement by
which school children are fed by the Education Committee on the authority of the Guardians continues.
The parents of the children receiving meals are always parents in poor circumstances. During
1926 63 per cent. of the parents were unemployed, 9 per cent. were widows and 5 per cent. were deserted
wives.
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL.
846 patients were admitted to the Municipal Hospital in 1926, as compared with 601, 626
and 674 in the three preceding years.
During the year the Medical Superintendent has brought into operation at the Hospital the
serum treatment of Scarlet Fever and the latest methods of prevention of Diphtheria amongst the
staff.
With regard to Scarlet Fever, he records that serum treatment reduced the percentage of
cases that develop complications and that where the serum is given early enough it cuts short the
disease. It is noteworthy that during the past year 306 cases of Scarlet Fever have been treated at,
the Municipal Hospital without a single death. The Medical Superintendent has also employed
the Dick test for Scarlet Fever amongst the patients in a non-Scarlet Fever ward in which a case of