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PREFACE.
Public Health Offices,
Ilford.
September, 1945.
Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I submit herewith the Annual Report for the year 1944, as required
by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.
This is the 25th and last Annual Report which I shall submit to you,
as I am retiring on 30th September for reasons of ill-health, having completed
26 years' service as Medical Officer of Health to the Town of Ilford.
The comparative vital statistics for the year 1944 of Ilford and other
districts will be found in Table 1a on Page 11.
A brief retrospect of the progress of the local health services during
this time shows considerable advancements and improvements in "the life
of our Town." During my term of office, the population has increased
from 79.524 to 149,330, and correspondingly the work of all sections of the
Public Health Department has increased.
In particular, the environmental hygiene section has vastly extended
the scope of work, much of which has been necessitated by such legislation
as the Public Health Act, 1936, the Housing Act, 1936, Ilford Corporation
Act, 1937, Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and the innumerable statutory rules
and orders, regulations and Ministry circulars which have been issued from
time to time. In these developments I had for many years the capable and
conscientious assistance of Mr. T. V. Haigh, Senior Sanitary Inspector from
1929 until his well-earned retirement in October 1944, when he left with
the good wishes of all his colleagues and associates.
The School Medical Service from small beginnings has grown to a large
comprehensive and efficient organisation, operating six Specialist Clinics,
in addition to the usual school medical facilities At present work is proceeding
to restore the premises of the Valentines and Mayesbrook School Clinics,
which were converted into First Aid Posts during hostilities. As I advised
the Education Committee in 1943, it will be necessary for the continuing
development of the School Medical Service to provide at least three new
School Clinics in the future in the localities which I then indicated.
The Open Air School, opened in January, 1929, and now unfortunately
partly out of service owing to enemy action, has proved of benefit to hundreds
of Ilford's delicate children.
The Service now caters for the pupils of the County High Schools in
the Town, in addition to the elementary school children, and facilities are
now available for upwards of 17,000 children as compared with 10,781 in
1919.
Considerable improvements have been effected in the physical condition
and well-being of the school children, and in this the provision of school
milk and meals has played a material part during the war years.
A noticeable feature has been the improvement in cleanliness. Whereas
in 1919, 10.7 per cent of children inspected were found to be infected with
vermin or nits, during 1944 only 2.4 per cent were thus affected.
Under the Education Act, 1944, the Essex County Council assumed
responsibility for the School Medical Service as from April 1st, 1945.
Pending the coming into operation of a scheme of Divisional Administration
or Ilford, an Interim Local Education Committee has been continuing the
local administration as previously and the School Medical Service has
similarly continued its operation. Arrangements for the future of the local
School Medical Service are still sub judice, and it remains to be seen how