[Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Lanchester R.D.C.

  • Lanchester (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Lanchester R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    6. Aged People and their Homes Admissions to Local Health Authority Hostels are arranged directly with the Welfare Department at Durham or occasionally after reference to the District Health Department. During the year under review, one case was admitted to the Stanhope Hostel and one to the Jarrow Hostel. Work is nearing completion on the building to be used for old people in the Stanley district, while a similar building is proposed for the Consett Urban District. These should, once completed obviate the necessity of local old people having to be transferred to hostels outside the district and away from their relatives and friends. In January it was necessary to obtain a magistrate’s order to ensure the removal to and detention in a hospital of a 73-year-old lady who was suffering from chronic illness and infirmity, was living in insanitary condi¬ tions and did not have anyone able or willing to care for her: On the expiry of this initial Order, an extension was obtained for a further three months, but by this time she had settled in completely and remained voluntarily. 7. Health Education In September, the Council agreed to purchase monthly enough copies of the journal “ Better Health ” to supply each school in the area and all members of the Council. Better Health ” is the official journal of the Central Council for Health Education, and this magazine has proved a very popular and attractive means of promoting health education in the district. Over the year, the contents of these booklets cover the whole field of health with particular reference to child health and nutrition, family matters, services provided by the local health authorities, epidemiology, environmental and food hygiene, smoke abatement and home accidents. 8. Prevention of Damage by Pests During the year, 426 inspections were made to private dwellings, business premises, Local Authority’s properties and agricultural premises (See Appendix D.). The maintenance treatments of sewers and sewage disposal works were completed at two six-monthly intervals as required by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. During the first treatment in March, 221 manholes were pre-baited and poisoned and 57 were found to be infested. In the September treatment, 171 manholes were treated and 37 were found to be infested. Close relations have been maintained with the representatives of the Northern Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and valuable information has been obtained from circulars during the year. 9. Disinfestation During the year 260 houses were inspected prior to the tenants taking over the tenancies of Council Houses. Four were found to be infested with bed bugs and were disinfested.