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in 1938, the year of highest recorded incidence prior to 1947. Locally, 29
verified cases occurred, with 1 fatality. Of the remainder, 20 had recovered
completely on discharge from hospital, 7 had slight paralysis, and 1 had
some permanent paralysis.
No case of smallpox occurred in the year, during which the Sanitary
Inspectors paid 331 visits to houses in connection with the surveillance of
contacts.
The number of cases of diphtheria notified fell to 22, the lowest for this
century. Only one fatal case occurred among Ilford patients admitted to the
Isolation Hospital. The progress of the diphtheria immunisation scheme has
continued satisfactorily, and the re-inoculation scheme introduced last year
has been well accepted, many parents availing themselves of the facilities
offered.
It will be noted in the section dealing with the Isolation Hospital that
a considerable number of obstetrical cases—ante-natal, confinement or postnatal—were
admitted. This is a continuation of the policy mentioned in my
last annual report and is designed to obviate any risk of an epidemic in the
Maternity Unit and to lighten the burden on the depleted and overworked
staff at the Maternity Home.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Services have dealt with 2,215 births,
as compared with 2,222 in 1946. The Maternity Home admissions, numbering
1,056, represent an increase of 3.5 percent. as compared with 1946. It will
be noted that 114 of these were emergency cases, most of which required
operative or other specialised treatment.
The domiciliary midwifery serVice dealt with 1,159 cases, as compared
with 1,202 in 1946. The difficulty of obtaining midwives for institution or
domiciliary midwifery continues. So far as district midwives are concerned,
one of the main factors has been the impossibility of obtaining suitable
housing accommodation. It is imperative that flats or houses within their
areas of practice should be provided to attract applicants and recruits to the
service generally. All the domiciliary midwives have now completed a course
of instruction in gas and air analgesia during childbirth, the necessary
apparatus has been obtained and it is intended to make this facility available
to patients whenever desired and possible.
The arrangements for the transfer of patients to emergency maternity
homes in the provinces continued during the year. Through the medium of
the London Emergency Bed Service many patients were accommodated in
various London maternity units, and others were admitted to these units by
previous agreement and direct booking. In September 1947, the Post-Natal
Hostel at Wilnett Lodge, Chadwell Heath, was opened, and this has proved
to be of considerable value in freeing beds at the Maternity Home for the
reception of an increased number of patients.
The Ministry of Health have given approval in principle to the erection
of an additional ward block and administrative accommodation at the
Maternity Home. Negotiations are now proceeding between the Ministry of
Health and Regional Hospital Board with a view to the building operations
being put in hand.
Corresponding with the work of the Maternity Home, attendances at
Loth Ante-Natal Clinics and at the Post-Natal Clinic have continued at a
busy level.
The work of the infant welfare centres has continued to increase.
Altogether 49,690 attendances were made as compared with 46,620 in 1946.
The number of children on the welfare centre rolls increased from 4,049 in
1946, to 4,146 in 1947. Home visiting by Health Visitors has had to be further
curtailed owing to shortage of staff. It has been exceedingly difficult to fill
vacancies and impossible to reach the full establishment. A temporary easement
of the position has been sought by the appointment of five Clinic Nurses,
but their functions are limited, as they cannot undertake all duties normally