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8
low infant birth rate in Ilford by conservation of infant life as is shown
by our low infant mortality rate of 17.12 deaths per thousand births as
compared with the figure rate for England and Wales of 231.
Infectious Disease.
Once again I have pleasure in reporting that there is a steady diminution
in the incidence of significant infectious disease. In fact rumour has it
that there should be a change in the name of the Ilford Isolation Hospital.
In common with the rest of the world we had our dose of Asian
Influenza but there was no great upset in normal activities of the town.
This was not the case, however, in the two residential schools at Kennylands
and Elmbridge where two thirds of the pupils were affected. The problem
imposed on the staff at these schools, where a great majority of the
children had to be nursed in the dormitories and very little extra staff
was available, may well be imagined. There is a short report in the
School Health Section on this matter and I would like to thank the staff
for the remarkable way they responded to this emergency.
Immunisation continues against various diseases, a newcomer to the
list last year being the inoculation of various medical and technical staff
against Influenza. This was not a very popular campaign, a number of
doctors and others refusing a second dose as a result of reactions to
the first. Immunisation against Poliomyelitis proceeds apace. So far in
1958 about 12,260 individuals have been immunised. There have been
no ill effects of the inoculation although quite a few people are still rather
loath to avail themselves of the foreign Salk vaccine which has not
been tested in this Country. I would like to thank the staff of my office
and the doctors in the town for the way they have risen to this emergency.
Up to date there have been no cases of Poliomyelitis in Ilford although
there were 17 cases in 1957. Whether this is just coincidental or partly
due to the immunisation campaign, only the future will show. Immunisation
against Tuberculosis by B.C.G. vaccine is steadily gaining in popularity.
The number of acceptances last year among those school leavers to whom
it was offered rose to 62% from 43%.
Two diseases have practically disappeared—true Ophthalmia Neonatorum
and significant Puerperal Pyrexia. However, notifications of these
conditions continue to come in for reasons which were not envisaged years
ago when it was decided to make these conditions notifiable. There can be
no doubt that a large proportion of the cases of both these conditions is
due to infection by antibiotic resistant staphylococci. Of the 61 cases
of Puerperal Pyrexia, all notified in the Ilford Maternity Hospital, at least
a quarter were due to mastitis probably from this organism. With the
co-operation of the Health Visiting staff a comprehensive and inclusive
domiciliary survey is being undertaken of staphylococcal infection in the
new-born, both those born in hospital and home being included. This
is a co-operative research effort, Dr. Elias Jones, the Group Consultant
Pathologist, and his staff being equally involved.
School Health Service.
The gross cost of the provision of School meals in this town is about
a quarter million pounds. The School Health Service costs approximately
£50,000. This includes provision of medical, dental, administrative and
clinical services. The economy is apparent. The health of the children is
such that there is no longer any waiting list for Benton School for the
Handicapped and in fact the School is not full.
An innovation last year was the introduction by Mr. Brand,
Physiotherapist, of instruction for suitable children at a special session at
the Ilford Swimming Bath which is reserved for the handicapped.