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4
The increase in the incidence of tuberculosis throughout the country generally
had not been felt appreciably in Woolwich prior to 1943, but in that year 292 new
cases were notified, an increase over 1942 of 43 cases. The number of deaths
increased also from 102 in 1942 to 112 in 1943. The death rate, however, increased
by only .05.
The outstanding features of the Tuberculosis Service were the institution of
Maintenance Grants and the provision of Miniature Mass Radiography Units for
the detection in its early stages of pulmonary tuberculosis, and of certain other
conditions.
The maternity and child welfare clinics operated throughout the year on a
peace-time basis and were well attended. Other branches of this service, with one
or two exceptions, were working on almost a pre-war level. The administration
of the added war-time service, that of day nurseries, whilst considerably increasing
the work of the Department, was carried on effectively.
I feel that this report would be grossly incomplete without a special reference
to the work of Dr. Macmillan, and the progress of the Health Services during his
service with the Council.
Dr. Macmillan was appointed in August, 1919, and from my own knowledge
of him, over a period which was all too short, I can endorse the many stories I have
heard of his energy and drive, and of the sincerity with which he devoted himself
to the service of the Council, and thereby to the people of Woolwich.
On his appointment, maternity and child welfare was in its infancy, but from
then on the Council, with the advice of Dr. Macmillan, and through schemes prepared
by him, built up the extensive service which is known in Woolwich to-day,
covering every phase of the care of the mother and the child up to school age.
Infant welfare clinics, ante-natal clinics, toddlers' clinics, ear, nose and throat
clinics, artificial sunlight treatment, dental treatment, provision of maternity beds,
and the many other branches of this service grew up during Dr. Macmillan's term
of office. Woolwich was one of the first Councils in the country to initiate toddlers'
clinics, and the first Metropolitan Borough Council to provide municipal centres
with accommodation on the same premises for both school and maternity and child
welfare services.
With the sanitary condition of the Borough and the housing position generally,
Dr. Macmillan quickly made himself familiar. In connection with slum clearance
he represented as unfit for human habitation 672 houses, and every one of these
he personally inspected for the preparation of evidence, many on more than one
occasion. The care with which he undertook this work is evidenced by the fact
that after inquiry by a Ministry of Health Inspector, in only 10 instances were
houses excluded from the Clearance Orders made by the Council, and these only
on undertakings by the owners to re-condition the houses.
A man of wide views, he early set out to educate the people of Woolwich in
all matters relating to health, keeping always to the forefront the principle that