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11. Health Visiting
Number of visits paid during the year by Health Visitors:—
To children under 1 year of age—First visits 1,078
Total visits 3,781
To children between one and five years of age 3,959
12. Child Life Protection
Child Life Protection and all work connected with the care of children
was from the 5th July, 1948, vested in a special children's department set
up by the Local Health Authority and by whom a Children's Officer was
also appointed.
During the first half of the year the Health Visitors who were appointed
Child Life Protection Visitors under Part VII of the Public Health Act,
1936, continued to act in that capacity until the Children's Department was
established and during this time paid 32 visits to foster-mothers.
SECTION C. SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA
The Senior Sanitary Inspector reports as follows:—
The year 1948, unlike 1947 with its severe frost and long period of
snow, relieved the Sanitary Inspectors' section of the department of much
anxiety and worry. There was, however, much to engage the staff, particularly
as the duties in connection with the general maintenance of requisitioned
houses was still performed by the Sanitary Inspectors.
Relief was provided by the appointment in August of an additional
Sanitary Inspector who assisted in picking up some of the arrears of work.
In order to provide up-to-date information to their staff, the Public
Health Committee agreed to the Deputy Senior Sanitary Inspector and
District Sanitary Inspectors attending the special course arranged in connection
with Food Hygiene and conducted by the Central Council for
Health Education. Those officers attended the course held during November
and December, 1948.
It will be noted that the annual report for 1947 revealed the amount
Work involved in trying to eradicate the ravages of dry rot. Once again,
one must stress the large amount of damage caused by this fungus, and the
heavy cost involved in the work. One house alone cost in the region of
£600 and involved the reconstruction of flooring, ceilings, internal and
external kitchen walls, etc. In fact, the infection spread from the front bay
to the rear external water closet of this large house. In addition to arranging
for the cutting out of affected materials, the Inspectors found that they had
to stress upon some builders the need for the quick removal of such material
from the site for destruction, as there was a tendency to leave affected
timber lying about on the flooring.
Referring to the maintenance of requisitioned houses, the department
was again indebted to the co-operation given by the builders engaged upon
that work.
In regard to duties performed under the Housing Act, it can again be
reported that 43 houses were repaired by the Local Authority because of
default on the part of the owner, and accounts rendered to cover the cost
thereof.
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