View report page

14
the Chiropody Service, the need and frequency of treatment is controlled
by the Chief Chiropodist. In the Home Help Service, the
supervision is provided by Area Organisers under the direction of
the Senior Home Help Organiser, and it is noteworthy that the
Area Organisers averaged three visits to every home. Recruitment
of Home Helps is still difficult but by providing a minimum service,
all calls for the service can be answered.
Home Accidents
During the year, it was possible to complete arrangements so
that the Register now contains details of all home accidents
admitted to the Casualty Departments of the several hospitals in
the Borough. It will now be possible to give annual levels and to
show trends up or down. Emphasis on the prevention of home
accidents is not allowed to diminish work in other fields for the
promotion of health as the comprehensive report on Health Education
shows. While in home accident prevention, the emphasis is
directed through three Area Committees of community representatives
and technical experts, in health education generally the
emphasis is through recognised channels of teaching in schools,
homes and clinics.
Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases
Measles showed a low incidence. Vaccination against measles
has become possible by the production of a safe and effective
vaccine which became available generally this year for susceptible
children under the age of fifteen years. It has been introduced in
the trough between epidemic years and the value of its use will be
shown if next year's anticipated epidemic does not arise.
Infective jaundice has been made a notifiable disease to determine
its general prevalence and to find methods of prevention. In
the six months, thirty cases were notified.
There was no significant increase in venereal diseases but an
increase.in cases and deaths from pneumonia.
The autumn of 1968 will be remembered for the unprecedented
flood situation which is described later in this report. While
constituent authorities had formerly to contend with flood situations
related to low-lying areas and the banks of the many partly
culverted streams, floods had never previously been so sudden,
widespread and so deep. The extent of damage to food alone was
shown in the rendering unfit of ten tons compared with 57 tons for
the whole year. The report describes the health measures advised
and taken to prevent waterborne diseases and the drying and
tidying up processes that were necessary.
The main routine effort of the Inspectors was directed towards
implementing the Smoke Control programme; and on this a balance
has had to be struck between inadequate progress in the face of