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8
The incidence of diphtheria is only a fraction of what it was even fifteen
years ago, largely as a result of immunisation. The infections then are
of far less importance than they were only a few years ago. Two diseases
call for special mention, poliomyelitis because of its special incidence
since the country was invaded in 1947, and tuberculosis because although
before the war it seemed about to be controlled, during the war it increased
so markedly but now again looks as though it might be controlled.
This report then is a list of establishments of various sorts, hospitals,
clinics, etc., at which services of different kinds, advisory or treatment,
are available to those who can go to the premises to take advantage of
them; and is a summary of the activities of large numbers of persons
who provide services of various sorts, education or treatment by the
doctors or nurses at the clinic or advisory or other at people's homes.
Apart from the large staffs at the various hospitals to which those from
this district as well as from others go, there are large numbers of persons
who spend their whole lives on matters which affect the health of those
living in the district. There are the many road sweepers, the collectors
of house refuse, the men engaged in sewer work, the staff of the chest
clinics, the home nurses, midwives and home helps, the health visitors
and the medical officers at the clinics, the sanitary inspectors and the
general medical practitioners. Much of the work of many of these is
advisory. Full benefit from their labours can follow only if those who
are being helped are prepared to profit by the advice. The staff at the
Colindale Laboratory prepares diphtheria antigen which the Ministry of
Health supply free of cost. This can be injected into children by general
medical practitioners or by the medical officers at the clincs. All these
facilities though come to nought unless the parent arranges for his child
to be treated. In the ultimate the efficiency of much of the health services
provided depends on the willingness of an individual to take advantage
of them. This can be brought about only by education, and it is
probable that in a district such as this where the general standard of
environment is high, less emphasis needs now to be paid to this and
more to education. Certain sections of the population who are in
the priority groups are entitled to the arrangements for dental treatment
provided by the local health authorities, a service available to
them only; but although these groups are specially favoured with this
free service, nothing like all who ought to take advantage of the facilities
do so. In the same way those entitled to special vitamin preparations
available free of charge do not take them to the extent that they should.
Much work has been done to improve the conditions under which food
is prepared and handled. Here again the purchaser has her own part to
play, not only in helping to reduce any unsatisfactory or unpleasant habits
of those in the shops or cafes dealing with the food, but herself to avoid
such unpleasantnesses as dropping cigarette ash near exposed foodstuffs
or handling food which she does not purchase. It must not be left to
the shop keeper to see that dogs are not brought into food shops. The
dog owners have their own responsibilities not only in this regard, but
also in the matter of the fouling of footways. During the war reliance
was placed on unofficial arrangements for help to be given by neighbours.
There is the less need these days for the active measures of that sort;