View report page

92
Whether the case be considered from the point of view of the additions which
have been made to the work to be coped with, or from the point of view of the
existing staff of Inspectors in the Borough, as compared with what has been deemed
necessary for other working-class Boroughs differing from Shoreditch to no material
extent as regards sanitary work required, it seems to me to be quite clear that an
increase in the number of Inspectors is necessary.
In coming to a conclusion as to the increase needed some allowance must be
made for the small area of the Borough, which no doubt saves time as regards
inspection. On the other hand, the area is very thickly populated and contains
many very poor persons dwelling under conditions which render more than an
average amount of the inspection necessary. After carefully considering the matter
I am of opinion that not less than two additional Sanitary Inspectors are required.
Two additional Inspectors would give the Borough 8 Inspectors, being an average
of one Inspector to every 13,933 persons. This approaches fairly near, although it
does not quite reach the average for the Metropolis.
III.—HEALTH VISITING.
Health visiting has been part of the work carried out by Sanitary Authorities
in various parts of the country for several years past. In Shoreditch it has been in
progress for between two and three years. Some excellent work has been done, so
far as it goes, but experience shows that one Health Visitor is unable to deal with
half that which is really necessary. A brief statement as to this branch of health
work in the Borough will, I think, be helpful. In 1907 the Notification of Births Act
was passed and the Act was adopted by the Borough Council on the recommendation
of the Health Committee in 1909, and came into operation in August of that year.
The object of this Act is to enable Sanitary Authorities to get early information of
births, with a view to advice being given to mothers where necessary as to the
rearing of infants, in order that the infantile mortality may be lowered. A Health
Visitor was appointed, and entered on her duties in the Borough in November, 1909.
The purposes of the appointment were to afford for inhabitants of the Borough
advice as to the proper nurture, care and management of infants, for the promotion
of cleanliness, and for the discharge of such other duties as may be assigned in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1908, and the regulation of the General Order made thereunder. The
duties discharged by the Health Visitor include the keeping of the necessary records
as to her work, enquiries as to consumption cases in women and children, and
investigation as regards cases of puerperal fever, ophthalmia neonatorum or inflammation
of the eyes in infants newly born, and infantile diarrhoea. The Health
Visitor also arranges for obtaining sanatorium or hospital treatment, for admissions
to convalescent homes, and for other measures, as may be practicable, for alleviating
suffering and affording relief or benefit in such cases.