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In regard to the care of mothers and young children, the
Rhesus Test has become a routine at ante-natal clinics. A table
is given showing the death rate of illegitimate infants over the
last 12 years, and it is gratifying to note that this rate was only
45 as compared with a death rate of 33 for legitimate infants. A
new welfare centre was opened at West Avenue and an additional
session was started at Penrhyn Avenue. The good work done at
" Brookscroft " has continued. The Day Nurseries were inspected
by officers of the central Ministries and a satisfactory report was
given.
The staff of Health Visitors, although not quite up to establishment,
has been reasonably well maintained. This also applies
to Home Nurses, in spite of the delay in the revision of their
salaries which has resulted in considerable difficulties of recruitment.
In spite of staffing difficulties, the good work of previous
years has been maintained.
Immunisation against Diphtheria was well maintained, but
with the lapse of compulsory vaccination this practice has fallen
to what may well prove to be a dangerously low level.
Commencement was made with the Medical Research Council
trials in regard to whooping cough vaccine, and the results will
be assessed over the next two years.
Measures for the prevention of illness, care and after-care,
received full consideration and use.
The Domestic Help Service continued to expand, and the
only real difficulty is to keep it within the limits of the financial
provision allowed.
The administrative difficulties inseparable from the delegation
of the transferred Part III Services have continued, and it can only
be hoped that the discussions taking place at the time of writing,
i.e., at the end of the two-year trial period, will do something
to ease the position. The only really satisfactory solution for a
Borough such as Walthamstow appears to be the achievement of
County Borough status, either alone or in combination.
Once again it is my pleasure to acknowledge the help and
co-operation of the Committees concerned, and the good work of
the staff in general.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
A. T. W. POWELL,
Medical Officer of Health.