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recently come to the Borough. Scarlet fever showed a decrease over 1946,
59 cases as compared with 72, all being of mild type.
The Diphtheria Immunisation campaign continued, a total of 813
children receiving inoculation. Only a very small minority of parents are
actually opposed to Immunisation, but some parents are inclined to postpone
it for trivial reasons and it is here that energetic measures of persuasion
on the part of the Health Visitors are called for. It is also evident that
not all children reaching the age of five are receiving the boosting dose
and a concentrated effort is now being made to increase the number of
protected children in this age group.
Vital statistics are shown on the Table on page five. The Birth Rate
per 1,000 of the estimated population increased to 19.8 as compared with
19.2 in 1946, while the Death Rate, calculated similarly, fell from 11.1 to
10.9. The Infantile Mortality Rate, i.e., the death of infants under one
year per 1,000 live births fell from 31.3 to 30.8 as compared with a rate of
41 for the whole of England and Wales.
Particulars of the Maternity and Child Welfare Service will be found
in the appropriate Section. In conjunction with the Essex County Council
two additional Health Visitors were engaged during the year, each of these
devoting 50 per cent. of her time to Maternity and Child Welfare and
50 per cent. to school medical work under the Essex County Council.
thus combining the post of Health Visitor and School Nurse, continued
supervision of the family by the same person is ensured. The twenty-ben
Maternity Wing at the Essex County Hospital, Wanstead, opened in
December, 1946 continued to prove of great benefit to expectant mothers,
a total of 234 women being admitted for confinement during 1947. Close
liaison has been maintained between the Borough ante-natal clinics and
the Maternity department of the hospital. Attendances at Infant Welfare
Centres totalled 24,434, an increase of 7,400 over the previous year. During
the year, work was commenced on the construction of the Day Nursery
in Spratt Hall Road, Wanstead. The need for Day Nursery facilities has
been continually evident not only for those mothers desirous of entering
industry, but also for those wishing to obtain employment as nurses or
teachers. Many applications have also been received from War widows,
unmarried mothers and wives separated from their husbands for whom
work is essential on economic grounds and who, in the absence of nursery
facilities would be compelled to separate from their children. Further,
there is need for nursery accommodation of a temporary nature when
sudden illness occurs in a home, or where a mother is being confined. It
is gratifying to be able to state that the Nursery was officially opened in
June, 1948.
I am indebted to the Chairman and Members of the Public Health
and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees for the support they have
given me in dealing with the problems which have arisen during the year.
I also thank the staff of the Public Health and other departments for their
co-operation.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
27th September, 1948. F. G. BROWN, M.B., B.Ch., D.P.H.
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