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5
PREFACE.
Public Health Offices,
Ilford.
His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Ilford.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I herewith submit the Annual Report required by the Ministry of Health
and the Board of Education.
The vital statistics show that the General Death Rate rose from 8.5 per
1,000 to 10.3 per 1,000 ; in London it rose from 11.9 to 17.8 and in England
and Wales from 12.1 to 14.3. In Ilford the Birth Rate remained stationary,
and the Maternal Mortality Rate rose from 1.75 to 3 per 1,000.
The Infant Mortality Rate was, however, the lowest ever recorded at 31.1
per 1,000 compared with 50 for London and 55 for England and Wales
generally, the previous lowest record for Ilford being 33 per 1,000 in 1930.
The rise itn the Death Rate would have been much higher if influenza
had made its appearance in epidemic form, which fortunately did not occur.
On the whole the figures are satisfactory, for 7 less persons per 1,000 died
in Ilford than in London and 19 less babies under 1 year of age.
The Public Health Services have been carried out under difficulties ; the
School Medical Service has been handicapped by the appropriation of Clinic
premises for other purposes. It will be seen, however, that the health of the
school children, including those at the School Camps, has been safeguarded.
The nursing problem has been acute ; the Maternity Home had to refuse 217
cases owing to difficulty in obtaining nursing staff. The nursing staff at the
Isolation Hospital and the Health Visiting staff had also to be largely supplemented
by temporary staff. This is not due to war causes alone, and it is
to be hoped that the Ministry of Health, which has appointed Committees to
deal with the problem, will soon come to a decision. It appears doubtful
whether the great amount of theoretical knowledge, attendance at lectures,
and difficulty of examinations, exacted by the General Nursing Council and
the Central Midwives Board, will result in a better qualified nurse or midwife.
The General Nursing Council has fortunately seen wisdom by ceasing to
exact the rather foolish educational test which it enforced for a time, but the
shortage of nurses has caused various bodies to consider whether " Assistant
Nurses " who have not obtained the State Certificate should be recognised
rather than employ nurses (some of doubtful value) from so-called Co-operative
organizations. It is to be hoped that some better solution than the
44 Assistant Nurse" will be found.
The Central Midwives Board chose the moment when more midwives were
required to enact regulations which in my opinion will at no distant date
cause a grave shortage of midwives in the country.
The Casualty Services have worked well and loyally; this is not the
time to enumerate their services. The call-up may cause a serious loss in their
personnel and efficiency.
Since July, 1940, I took over the duties of Milk Officer (to deal with the
supply of milk to expectant and nursing mothers and children under 5 years
of age) and from this date until December, 1940, I issued 15,000 permits and
dealt with 17,000 application forms, approximately £4,500 being paid by the
Ministry of Food for the milk supplied in this period.
The Scheme has worked very satisfactorily in Ilford, as I felt it would if,
at any rate at its initiation, it was linked up with the department which had
been dealing with milk schemes for many years.
At the early part of 1940 I was somewhat seriously ill, and I have to
thank Dr. Weir, the Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Mr. Haigh, the Senior
Sanitary Inspector, and Mr. Hocking, the Chief Clerk, as all the rest of my
staff, for the way in which the work was carried out in my enforced absence.
I have also, for the twenty second time, to thank the members of the
Council for their continued support, and I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
A. H. G. BURTON,
Medical Officer of Health.