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routine school medical inspection of entrants, followed by
immunisation sessions held at the schools attended. If the
District is to remain free from diphtheria, however, it is
essential that there should be no abatement of immunisation,
particularly of infants between 6 and 12 months old.
There was no significant change in the birth rate or death
rate. Births exceeded deaths by 515, but the population of
the District increased from 40,940 to 48,680 (Registrar
General's mid-year figures) chiefly owing to continued immigration
into the L.C.C. Housing Estates. 1357 new houses
were erected and occupied on these estates during the year,
and as in the past, many of the houses were allocated
on medical grounds, of which tuberculosis, asthma and heart
disease were the most frequent.
The problem of providing adequate health services to
meet the rapid growth of the L.C.C. estates has been great.
The residents on the estates have been accustomed to well
equipped modern clinics within easy reach of their homes,
and have made heavy demands on the services which are
being provided by the County Council in existing buildings
and improvised houses until permanent Combined Treatment
Centres can be erected. (At time of writing, the Centre on
the Hainault Estate is already functioning and that for the
Loughton Estate is in course of erection). There have also
been insistent demands for provision of Day Nurseries and
Home Helps, which have not so far been adequately met
because of transport and accomodation difficulties and the
lack of available persons living on the estates who are suitable
for this type of employment.
Despite all these problems and difficulties (which are
not surprising in such rapidly growing communities with a
high proportion of medical priority cases) there is definite
evidence of improving health, physique and well being—
especially amongst the children.
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