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by the psychiatrists in charge of child guidance clinics to provide for these
children the normal background, which they would have had in a reasonably
large family. The increase in the number of children, whose parents
seek the advice of psychiatrists is alarming, and presents a serious problem.
It can be recorded with satisfaction that during the year considerable
work has been done for the aged in Beddington and Wallington. The
work of the old people's committee in promoting social clubs has done
much to alleviate the lot of old persons living alone. Social outings, too,
have given an opportunity for these people to visit seaside and country
resorts, which they had given up hope of seeing again.
The work of the Women's Voluntary Services, too, is beyond praise,
and it would be ungracious not to take this opportunity of recording
with what great appreciation the work of the W.V.S., particularly in
connection with the home help service, has been received during the year.
A W.V.S. home help supervisor (Mrs. D. Best), acting under the direction
of the Divisional Medical Officer, has given voluntary full-time service
throughout the whole year.
Much of the provision of home help service has been on behalf of the
aged, some of whom have been sick and infirm and have had to be nursed
at home because of the shortage of institutional accommodation. Frequent
calls by the almoners of hospitals and of the geriatric department
at St. Helier Hospital have had to be met, but in spite of the financial
limitation on the expansion of home help services, all deserving cases
have received the attention required as soon as they were brought to the
notice of the department.
On page 38, under the heading of " Deaths from Tuberculosis ", it
will be noticed that there has been an increase of over 100 per cent, on the
figures recorded in 1948; 13 deaths in 1949 as compared with 6 in 1948.
The prevalence of tuberculosis, especially amongst young people, and the
amount of illness caused by this infection, is only now being properly
appreciated, and is giving rise to considerable public anxiety. Statistical
observers throughout England and Wales have shown that, of all the
infectious diseases, tuberculosis causes the largest number of deaths in
childhood. Miller has shown that in England and Wales during 1945,
one-seventh (14 per cent.) of the deaths of children between one and
fifteen years of age were due to tuberculosis, and has stated that at school
age tuberculosis is the chief infective cause of death.
A general increase in the number of cases notified in the young has
also been noted throughout the country, and some administrative action
on a National scale is undoubtedly called for. The contributory causes
for the present spread of the scourge are, without doubt, inadequate
housing and shortage of institutional beds in hospitals and sanatoria for
the treatment of tuberculosis. Many advanced cases in a highly infectious
state have to be nursed in already overcrowded homes, and it has been
found impossible to segregate young children in such a way as to prevent
their becoming infected.
During the year, the Corporation has made a strenuous effort to
improve the housing conditions in the Borough.
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