[Report 1944] / Medical Officer of Health, Birkenhead County Borough.
- Birkenhead (England). County Borough Council.
- Date:
- 1944
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1944] / Medical Officer of Health, Birkenhead County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![look' the greatest iiiteiest in all cliildi’en refeia-ed to liiiii; aii-i tin- <*0)i- ser\ ati\'e methods la* eiji})l(j\ ed w ei'e tlie soii)-c(' of luiadi iiiti-re<1 .-imoiig the nieinhers of (lie medical prol'essioi]. Details of the operative and other treatment provirled for children of school age at this Clinic may he I'ouiKt on jcigfs d(i ;ind o(» <1 this re])ort. Municipal Skin Clinic Most essential w oi-k has l)een caria(Ml out during tin* ycair ai this C'linic, whicdi remains nndei- the care of Die Bla(d\'^t<»id< and the Xiirsu in Charge, Miss ikaittie. Although the Clinic has been in existence for such a cornpuratively short period, it has become an indispensable part of the Borough’s health service. The wcjrk carried out is of vital importance in that It considerably eases the strain on the out-patient clinics and in-patient accornmodatioji of the hospitals in the area. Although there has been a steady decline, throughout the year, in the incidence of scabies, a greater number of other skin diseases has been treated. It was found that rather less than two treatments (the average for the year was 1.82) were required to effect a cure for a case of uncomplicated scabies. This remarkably rapid cure was possible only \\hei'e the treatment was applied by specitilly trained staff at the Clinic. No comparable results could be achieved by home treatment. Certain other skin diseases require a much greater number of daily treatments. These can be provided successfully only at a special Skin Diseases Clinic. At the Minor Ailments Clinics no provision is made for the treatment of whole families. It is essential for a speedy and complete recovery that all members of a family suffering from a con- tagious skin disease should be treated at the same time in order fo prevent re-infection in the home. During the year 377 school children suffering from pediculosis and uncleanliness received treatment, which included, in some cases, the provision of baths and the stoving of clothes. Many of these cases were referred to the Clinic by parents, welfare officers, and the staffs of the Invalid Children’s Association and of the Birkenhead and Wirral Children’s Hospital. The prevalence of contagious skin diseases and uncieanliness is largely due to overcrowded conditions which, unfortunately, are likely to remain for some years after hostilities have ceased. The need for the setting up of a permanent Skin Diseases Clinic is, therefore, a matter of great urgency. Government Evacuation Scheme In accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, issued in November, 1944, arrangements have been made for the return to Birkenhead of the majority of evacuated school children.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28927382_0036.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
