[Report 1971] / Medical Officer of Health, Jersey.

Jersey (Channel Islands). Council.

Date:: 1971

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1971] / Medical Officer of Health, Jersey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Principal causes of Death. Ischaemic heart disease (coronary thrombosis) headed the table as the condition which caused most deaths, being responsible for 23.7% of all deaths. Cancer was second with 21.1% and cerebro-vascular disease (strokes) was third with 16.2% of all deaths. 209 persons died from coronary thrombosis—63 of them being under retirement age at the time of death. If we take males alone we find that 56 out of the 142 males who died from coronary thrombosis were under retirement age. As usual cancer of the lung was the most lethal form of cancer with 40 male deaths and 8 female deaths. Tuberculosis. 14 indigenous cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were found in 1971. This is the same number as in the previous year. 11 other cases were also found, but they were either recent arrivals in the Island or were transfers from chest clinics in the United Kingdom. 7 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were found in alien workers as a result of the X-ray examination which is compulsory for all foreign workers coming to the Island. We are again pleased to report that no child under 15 years was found to be suffering from tuberculosis. Over 15,000 persons used the Mass Miniature Radiography Unit and the yield rate for pulmonary tuberculosis was 0.6 per 1,000. Infectious Diseases. {other than tuberculosis). Glandular fever was first made notifiable in Jersey as recently as April 1970. In that year 17 cases were notified, but in 1971 this figure had risen to 122. There can be little doubt that this increase reflects a true increase in the incidence of the disease, but why this should happen is still unknown. Dr. P. G. Ber.tlif, Consultant Venereologist, reports a great increase in the number of female patients attending his Clinic. The increase was mostly in gonorrhoea and, fortunately, the number of cases of syphilis was few. School Medical Service. The school population of Jersey continued to rise and this led to an increase in the number of medical examinations which had to be done. The school doctor’s sessions increased from 211 in 1970 to 243 in 1971 and the services of another school doctor on a part-time basis in 1972 will be necessary. The health of the school children remained good and no outbreaks of infectious diseases were seen. It was noticed by the school nurse that verminous heads were not responding to the usual treatment and it was thought that head lice had become resistant to the usual gamma benzine hexochloride (B.H.C.) shampoo which was used. Fortunately a new preparation containing malathion was available and this is proving successful. School Dental Service. Mr. I. J. Campbell, the Senior School Dental Officer, reports an increase in all aspects of chairside work. This was thought to be due not only to the increase in the school population, but also through increasing parental interest. Increasing work will mean that it may be necessary to employ a dental hygienist next year who will also undertake dental health education in schools—an aspect of the work which, through lack of staff, is at present sadly missing. Environmental Health. (Taken from the Report of Mr. R. F. Knowles, Chief Health Inspector). For part of the year the health inspectorate was under-staffed following the departure to Canada of one of its inspectors and the failure to obtain a replacement. Building Control and Housing. 1,227 building applications were processed by the Public Health Department staff. During the year 566 dwelling units were completed consisting of 396 houses or bungalows, 108 flats or maisonettes and 62 units gained through conversions. Apart from routine investigation into complaints concerning structural defects in dwelling houses, the Department during the year received 113 applications for re-housing on medical grounds. These were investigated and resulted either in appropriate recommendation to the Housing Committee with, on occasion, the imposition of a Closure Order on the premises or a defect notice to the owner. During the year the Sub-Committee inspected 30 dwellings and interviewed 7 owners or their representatives. Closing Orders were applied to 20 properties. Food and Drugs. The number of complaints regarding the nature, substance and quality of food increased over previous years and this can be attributed to greater public awareness of the function of the Public Health Department in these matters. No prosecutions were instituted by the Department mainly because complainants wished merely to draw official attention to faulty foods and to see improvements executed where necessary.