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paid 302 visits during the year. Equipment was loaned, in whole or in part, to
34 homes.
No guaranteed payments to foster-mothers caring for illegitimate children were
made. The Council grants an annual contribution through the Metropolitan
Boroughs Standing Joint Committee to the various moral welfare associations,
whose officers have given much help with difficult cases. All illegitimate children
were carefully supervised by the health visitors.
In order to improve and expand the home help service, a full-time organiser
was appointed during the year. At the end of the year eight whole-time and eight
part-time domestic helps were employed and 50 maternity and 68 other cases had
been assisted.
Two new services were inaugurated during the year—a marriage advisory clinic,
which is an extension of the medical and gynaecological clinic, and an old people's
club. The former held a session every two weeks at the Model Welfare Centre
and was in the charge of Mr. Edward F. Griffith, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., and a social
worker, Miss Cathcart. The latter was commenced in October with one meeting
a week and has since increased to two meetings. The club is open to old age
pensioners living in the borough, the object being to help them to feel less lonely
and handicapped, by companionship and by encouraging creative activity in
various crafts.
The water supply is relayed directly from mains to houses and is controlled by
the Metropolitan Water Board who are responsible for the bacteriological
examinations. No complaint was received about the quality of the water.
Administration of the various sanitary services was considerably complicated
by the greatly augmented number of complaints received, illustrated by the increase
from 1,124 in 1939 to 2,964 in 1946. It was decided that routine work under the
Factories Act, formerly carried out by all the district inspectors, should be
transferred in July to one inspector. The number of factories inspected was 762 ;
195 intimation notices were served (66 under the Factories Act and 129 under the
Public Health (London) Act.
Acting on Ministry of Food Circular N.S. 12, a comprehensive scheme for
rat destruction was inaugurated in September, the rodent staff being increased from
a rodent clerk and two operatives, to a rodent officer, four investigators, a foreman
operative, nine operatives and one clerk. All personnel attended a two-day course
of instruction arranged by the Ministry of Food. The Senior Sanitary Inspector
was responsible for the administration of the scheme. In November, to determine
the severity of infestation in the borough, a house to house survey of premises,
calculated to last six months, was commenced. Where infestation was apparent
the necessary treatment was initiated. Four days' pre-baiting, one day poison
bait-laying, and one day clearing is the method of choice; careful recordings of the
unpoisoned and poison bait " takes " being made.
I have pleasure in expressing thanks to the staff who gave me loyal assistance
during Dr. Smithard's absence abroad.
I am, Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EVELYN C. McGREGOR,
TOWN HALL, OLD STREET, E.C.I. Acting Medical Officer of Health.
October, 1947.