View report page

7
handling trades. Propaganda by means of posters, leaflets, press articles,
lectures, demonstrations and films, was used and the goodwill, co-operation
and assistance of all concerned earnestly sought. In connection with this
campaign, the Sanitary Inspectors conducted an intensive survey of all
food preparing, catering and retail premises.
A food hygiene exhibition was held, a detailed account of which
appears on page 41.
So far as infectious diseases are concerned, there have been no serious
epidemics affecting the citizens of the Borough. The commonest ailment
was measles, there being 2,937 cases, as against 2,232 in 1947. Whooping
cough, the next common infection, showed an increase from 935 to 1,061
cases.
The incidence of poliomyelitis (4cases) was much lower than in
1947 (29 cases). Attention is directed to a remarkable case recovery detailed
on page 35.
No case of smallpox occurred in the year, during which the Sanitary
Inspectors paid 64 visits to houses in connection with the surveillance of
contacts.
It will be noted that during the year infant vaccination ceased to be
compulsory. Responsibility for providing facilities for vaccination generally
became a function of the Local Health Authorities under the National
Health Service Act, 1946.
The number of cases of diphtheria notified fell to 16, the lowest for
this century. No 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 in
1947 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
post-natal—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 Hospital.
The Maternal and Child Health Services dealt with 1,888 births, as
compared with 2,215 in 1947. The Maternity Hospital admissions, numbering
1,144, represent an increase of 8"3 per cent. as compared with 1947.
It will be noted that 125 of these were emergency cases, most of which
required operative or other specialised treatment.
It is here appropriate to pay tribute to the work of the late Mr. R. L.
Dodds, whose untimely death in January, 1949, was deeply regretted by
all connected with the Maternity Hospital. Since December, 1940, he had
been Consulting Obstetrician to the Borough Council's Maternity Services,
having previously held the appointment of Deputy Consulting Obstetrician
since December, 1934.
The domiciliary midwifery service dealt with 744 cases, as compared
with 1,159 in 1947. The difficulty of obtaining midwives for institutional
or domiciliary midwifery continues. All the domiciliary midwives are
qualified to administer gas and air analgesia during childbirth, and this
facility is available to patients whenever desired and possible. Four sets
of apparatus are kept at the Ambulance Station from whence they are
delivered on the request of a midwife.
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. The Post-Natal Hostel