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35
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
ACT, 1946
SECTIONS 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 51.
Full details of the Council's proposals approved by the Minister
of Health, as indicated in my report for 1948, have been published in
book-let form and are available for reference.
SECTION 27 - AMBULANCE SERVICES.
The revised plans for the new ambulance station have now been
approved by the Ministry of Health and when the building has been completed
and equipped, this service should function with greater efficiency
and will provide suitable and comfortable quarters for the personnel.
SECTION 28 - PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE.
B.C.G. vaccine.
See comments on page 28.
SECTION 22 - CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
Unmarried mothers have been admitted to the following hostels
for periods of 4 - 6 weeks before their confinements :-
One to "Ardmore," Loughton, Essex (Essex C.C.)
Two to St. Agatha's, Stratford, E.15 (Voluntary).
The Senior Dental Officer submits the following report in respect
of the dental treatment provided for expectant and nursing mothers
and young children during the year under review :-
"The year just ended has seen another great increase in the
demand for dental treatment.
Hie children under school age do not have a routine dental
inspectlo ??? referred for advice, and treatment from the M. &
C.W. Clinics by the doctors. In nearly every case the children have
had toothache In a greater or lesser degree and nearly all suffered from
gross caries. Hie decline in the condition of the teeth has been very
rapid in the last three years. There appears to be no resistance to
dental caries and 95% of the teeth are broken down to gum level, with
acute or chronic abscesses.
The attendance number for toddlers In 1950 was 800, inspections
totalled 440, of this number 410 required treatment, and the number of
teeth extracted was 1,200 - an average of 3 extractions per child.
When it is realised that approximately 97% of these teeth were
molars, of which there are eight in the temporary dentition, it will be
obvious that each of the children loses an average of nearly 50% of
masticating efficiency before the age of five, an appalling state of
affairs.
A complete table of figures is appended"