[Report 1943] / Medical Officer of Health, Widnes Borough.

  • Widnes (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1943
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1943] / Medical Officer of Health, Widnes Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    A scheme providing free immunisation against Diphtheria was put into operation in January, 1941. The number of children immunised during the past three years was as follows : — Year Under 5 years of age Over 5 years of age Total 1941 1026 4204 ' 5230 1942 1495 708 2203 1943 1147 1843 2990 Total 3668 6755 10423 The percentage of children protected against this disease now exceeds 90% and must be regarded as extremely satisfactory. The clergy, medical practitioners and school teachers have fully supported the efforts of the staff in achieving these results. Every endeavour is being made to secure the immunisation of every child but, unfortunately, there are some parents who persistently refuse to accept advice from anybody. • The Maternity and Child Welfare Services were fully extended, the attendances at the Health Centre and Mill Brow Clinic being greater than ever. The majority of the children under 5 years of age suffering from squint were referred to the Eye Specialist for examination and attend regularly for re-inspection. 16 day nurseries were in full operation and the average number on roll was 716. There were no houses built during the year. The housing shortage is, therefore, more acute than ever before. A few houses in the Farnworth district which suffered from war damage were reconditioned and the owner-occupiers, who had been temporarily housed on the,Corporation estates, were able to enter into possession of their homes. The vacated Corporation dwellings were sub¬ sequently re-let to families which were overcrowded. This relief, though useful, was comparatively insignificant. The provision of houses is undoubtedly the most urgent post-war requirement. Apart from the shortage which has resulted from the cessation of building, overcrowding has increased and the condition of older houses has deteriorated owing to the difficulty of executing repairs. To what extent the latter should be reconditioned cannot be decided until the policy of the Minister relative thereto is announced. To carry out extensive reconditioning would involve the utilisation of labour and material which should be devoted to the building of new dwellings. Further, regard must be paid to the fact that reconditioning would not, in the majority of cases, bring the houses up to the requisite standard of housing for the working classes. Prior to 1919, the houses which possessed a bathroom were in the minority. All the houses built since that date, however, have been provided with bath¬ rooms and there is ‘now a majority of houses with this amenity. %