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The number of cases of diphtheria notified fell to 25, the lowest for this
century. It is gratifying to report that no death occurred among the Ilford
patients admitted to the Isolation Hospital. During the year a diphtheria
reinoculation scheme was instituted. This provides for the reinforoement
of immunity in children previously immunised.
With the removal of restrictions on the civilian purchase of penicillin
in June, 1946, increasing use has been made of this antibiotic in the treatment
of patients in the Isolation Hospital and Maternity Home, with most
encouraging results. Cases previously regarded as inevitably fatal, e.g.
pneumococcal meningitis, have been saved by its use. The arrangements
for the regular hire of oxygen tents commenced during the year has similarly
proved most satisfactory.
It will be noted, in the section dealing with the Isolation Hospital, that
a considerable number of obstetrical cases—ante-natal, confinement, or
post-natal—were admitted. This policy, which incidentally lightened the
burden on the depleted and overworked staff at the Maternity Home, was
adopted in all cases where any suspicion of infection existed. It was designed
to obviate any risk of an epidemic in the Maternity Unit, which inevitably
would have resulted in ward closure and refusal of cases, for whom it would
have been practically impossible to find alternative accommodation. A
particularly fatal type of neonatal enteritis which affected many maternity
units in various parts of the country fortunately did not occur in Ilford.
The satisfactory results of hospital treatment of primary and influenza
pneumonia are indicated in the table on page 38. Many of these patients
were of advanced age and there is little doubt that recovery would not have
been possible with home nursing facilities.
A disturbing feature mentioned in the 1945 Report, and continuedly
manifest, has been the lack of provision of adequate institutional accommodation
for the chronic sick, aged and infirm in the district. Several of such
cases have been admitted to the Isolation Hospital by reason of an intercurrent
attack of pneumonia, bronchitis or cardiac decompensation under the
diagnosis of pneumonia and after prolonged treatment it has been difficult
to arrange their discharge owing to lack of suitable housing, home care or
institutions to which they could be transferred. In a recent case it was
necessary to retain such a patient for three months before suitable domestic
arrangements could be made for his future welfare. This position naturally
causes serious difficulties at times when the Isolation Hospital beds are in
frequent demand and prejudices other acutely ill patients for whom admission
is desired.
It will be recalled that particulars of the activities of the Civil Defence
Casualty Services were given in the last two Annual Reports. Additional
information as to the extent to which the Borough suffered from enemy
activities is given in the Report of the Essex County Council A.R.P. Committee
published at the beginning of the present year. From this it is seen
that in Metropolitan Essex the total Air Raid casualties sustained by Ilford
residents and the gross damage to local property exceeded that of any other
Borough in this area. The actual figures are:—
Casualties: fatal 530; serious 854; slight 1,786; total 3,170.
Houses: demolished 1,313; badly damaged 9,410; minor damage
29,974; total nett 40,697; total gross 95,000; the last figure
represents the number of incidents to all properties, many being
damaged more than once.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Services, in the face of continued difficulties
of shortage of staff, accommodation and housing, have nobly coped
with 2,222 births, the largest annual number ever dealt with by the local
organisation. The Maternity Home admissions, numbering 1,020,