Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell annual (abridged) report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1942.

  • Camberwell (London, England). Metropolitan Borough.
Date:
[1943]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell annual (abridged) report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1942. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CAM 31 Public Health Department, Town Hall, Camberwell, S.E.5. 30th September, 1943. To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors, of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell. Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors, This report, like those previously Issued during the War merely records in statistical form the work carried out during the year in connection with the more important services and follows the Ministry of Health's suggestions for the preparation of annual reports during War time. The respite from sustained nightly bombing enabled more attention to be given to the repair of War damaged houses and particularly to such basic Public Health Services as Sanitary Inspection, Infant Welfare and the Prevention and Control of Infectious and other Diseases. The year's work also included breaking new ground by the initiation and development of a scheme for the establishment of a number of War-time nurseries in various parts of the Borough. This programme contemplated the establishment of twelve Nurseries and at this date there remains one Nursery to be opened in the North Peckham district, which it is hoped will be ready for occupation in the course of the next week or two, to complete the scheme. In response to the appeal by the Minister of Health to Local Authorities to secure the immunisation of the greatest possible number of children against Diphtheria during the summer months, an intensive propaganda campaign was conducted throughout the Borough by leaflet distribution, poster displays, and personal contacts by the Health Visitors and Sanitary Inspectors. As a result of these activities it became necessary to establish a chain of Clinics to meet the demand for treatment. It is extremely satisfying to note that the interest of the parents in this all important matter of securing protection for their children is well sustained as the attendances at the Clinics continue to show. An increase in the number of cases of Scabies and Vermin ifestations has to be reported and was reflected in the work of the Cleansing Centre at Peckham Park Road Depot. In some cases patients were unable to leave their work to attend the Centre for treatment at the appointed times and in the interests of the War effort and of the affected persons themselves facilities were offered for treatment in the evenings, an arrangement which proved its value and was much appreciated by the persons concerned. A re-arrangement of the Tuberculosis work of the Borough followed on the release for Military Service of Dr. C. F. Price, the Tuberculosis Officer and Deputy Medical Officer of Health.