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6
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Thirty-fifth Annual Report on the Health
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
This Annual Report is an "Ordinary Report" and not a "Survey Report,"
and it follows the outline indicated by the Ministry of Health in Circular 1492 in
order to obtain uniformity in the presentation of Annual Reports of Medical Officers
of Health throughout England and Wales.
In the first section will be found a precis of the Health Services of the Borough,
and at the end of the section will be found the official letter of the Minister of
Health, setting forth his observations on the report of the Survey of the Health
Services in the Borough made by his Officers at the end of 1934 and the beginning
of 1935. All who have taken part in their development, or watched with interest
their progress will note with pleasure and gratification that the opening runs as
follows:—"The report indicates that so far as can be judged from a general survey,
a reasonable, and in most respects a high standard of efficiency and progress is
being maintained by the Council in the discharge of their functions relating to
Public Health."
The Council's scheme of Health Propaganda is fully described in the second
section of the Report, and of special interest is the success which is attending the
cookery classes organised in connection with the Tuberculosis Dispensary. Great
interest has been taken by the wives and mothers of the tuberculous in these
demonstrations which show how to make the best use, so far as food value is
concerned, of the diminished income which this disease so often entails.
In the third Section is recorded progress in connection with Maternity and
Child Welfare during the year. The maternity services of the Borough form a
comprehensive scheme whereby complete facilities are provided for hospital and
domiciliary care, and no woman need be without the services of a trained midwife
at her confinement. They comprise:—
(a) Home visits to expectant mothers.
(b) Establishment of ante-natal and post-natal clinics.
(c) Provision of maternity outfits.
(d) Payment of compensation to midwives.
(e) Payment of midwives' fees in suitable cases.
(f) The services of a Consultant in exceptional cases of obstetric or ante-natal
abnormality at home.
(g) The services of a Consultant in cases of puerperal fever and puerperal
pyrexia.
(h) Provision of home helps in maternity cases.