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now considered that all adolescents who are shown (by skin
tests) to be susceptible to the disease, should be offered this
protection by the School Medical Service. It is anticipated that
this service also will become available in this district during
the coming year.
FOOD POISONING.
Only four cases of food poisoning were notified during the
year.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948 and NATIONAL
ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951.
Eight persons "in need of care and attention" were under
observation for possible action under the above Acts.
Three of these cases were admitted as voluntary patients,
one of which has since died. Three remain at home under continued
observation—the other two having died during the year.
One case compulsorily removed to hospital under Section
47 of the 1948 Act last year, was kept in hospital by Court
Orders until November. She is still a patient but compulsion
is not now necessary.
This is not by any means the whole story, as it does not
include reference to the many aged and infirm persons who are
willing to go to hospital or institution, but cannot be found a
vacancy, or who require domiciliary attention of a kind beyond
that which can be provided by—or reasonably expected from—
an ordinary "Home Help". Until we have ONE service responsible
for the chronic infirm instead of the many agencies at
present concerned with their different aspects (e.g. financial,
domiciliary, institutional, hospital, blind, mental) these cases
are in danger of remaining without even the simplest comforts
for long periods during which their "classification" (often unstable
in any event) is being determined.
In conclusion, I would again like to record my appreciation
to the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee
for their support and to the staff of the Public Health
Department for their help and co-operation during the year.
For the statistical information which the Area Health and
Divisional Educational Departments of the County Council
have provided for this report, grateful acknowledgments are
also made.
H. FRANKS, M.B., B.S., B.Hy., D.P.H.
Medical Officer of Health.
June, 1954.
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