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The supervision of sanitary conditions was carried out with the
usual systematic thoroughness. Steady progress was maintained
in eliminating poor housing conditions and in the abatement of
overcrowding. Attention to food and food premises, always of the
closest, will be more complete if, as anticipated, the Council
become the Food and Drugs Authority under the 1938 Act in
October next. Under this arrangement, all aspects of the public
health control of food, both those pertaining to wholesomeness and
those relating to adulteration, will be in the hands of the Public
Health Authority.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme made another step
forward in its development by the inauguration of special toddler
clinics, and the activities of the Centres again reached higher levels.
Particularly gratifying was the increased use made of the antenatal
sessions. Further accommodation for this service is now urgently
required and the completion of the new St. Helier clinic building
will be a valuable addition to the scheme. The time is now ripe
for a re-organisation of the arrangements for medical attendances
at the clinics, under which the appointment of a full-time assistant
is clearly desirable.
Largely owing to the Air Raid Precautions Scheme, all the
members of my Department have been called upon to assume
additional duties. Mr. Spicer in particular, has undertaken a
considerable amount of the training of the Air Raid Precautions
personnel and no little responsibility for organising the First Aid
services. To him, as to all the members of the Department, my
sincere thanks are due for their valuable assistance given, as always,
in unstinting measure.
This may well be my last Annual Report in my capacity as
Medical Officer of Health for the joint districts of Carshalton and
Merton and Morden. Since the joint appointment was made early
in 1934, the combined populations have increased from 90,000