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1950), but complacency should not be allowed to obscure the need
for more and earlier immunisation in infancy, and even more
important the need for "booster" doses before entry to school.
The facilities for whooping cough immunisation and now against
poliomyelitis should not lessen the demand for protection against
what could still become the greater danger, i.e., the recurrence of
virulent diphtheria.
Notifications of food poisoning were comparatively low, but
there was one virulent family infection with salmonella typhi
murium with five cases including one death. Reference is made to
the salmonella infection of Chinese egg products issued to bakers
and to school kitchens and its subsequent total prohibition in the
latter.
Reference is also made to old people's welfare and extracts are
given from the report circulated by the Chairman and Secretary of
the Committee. Once more the need is stressed for daily "Meals
on Wheels," more domestic help and more hospital accommodation
for the aged sick and welfare accommodation for the frail ambulant,
especially during severe winter weather. There is most of all need
of greater recognition of the responsibility by children for the care
of their aged parents.
The Sanitary Inspectorate under the Chief Sanitary Inspector
have again done good work in regard to their duties generally, and
particularly in the inspection of dwellings scheduled for clearance,
and the improvement of food hygiene.
The report includes many contributions from my colleagues
and others and I would express my thanks not only for these, but
also for another year of happy collaboration.
The following comments refer to certain aspects of the Personal
Health Services.
There was some difficulty in regard to staffing, particularly
medical, delay in regard to the commencement of the Health
Services Clinic at Priory Court, difficulty in expanding the General
Dental Service and Chiropody treatment, a fall in post-natal
attendances both at Thorpe Coombe and at Local Authority Clinics,
a further fall in the number of home confinements and in welfare
attendances, in the numbers vaccinated and immunised (chiefly due
to suspension during the months of poliomyelitis prevalence), and
finally, the continued shortage of domestic helps with an increasing
number of cases.