COUNTY BOROUGH OF WALLASEY

of the

cer of Health

School Medical Officer

mltJ

i*' »-- * y ■ -r ; jl . ■ . ■ :.v- .... , • v.-‘s - " , *,•••: . i *••• -• r- „ _• •

HOWARD W. HALL, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.

Medical Officer of Health , Administrative Tuberculosis Officer ,
Principal School Medical Officer, etc.

~ ■

Including the Report of the
CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR
(A. GILPIN, B.SC, (Econ,) M.A.P.H.L,A.M.inSt.F.,
Chartered Fuel Technologist)

5f W ATX JUS, LTD. PRINTERS, 11 DAC*B STREET, BiRXENHEAD

1961,

COUNTY BOROUGH OF WALLASEY

ANNUAL REPORT

of the

Medical Officer of Health

and

Principal

School Medical Officer

for the year

1960

HOWA8D W. HALL, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.

Ca‘ °fficer °f Health, Administrative Tuberculosit Officer
Principal School Medical Officer , etc.

Including the Report of the
CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR

j&B GILPIN> B-sc- (Econ.) M.A.P.H.I., A. m. inst. F. ,

Chartered Fuel Technologist)

WiNs

*anley & Watkins, Ltd. Printers, 11 Dacre

1961.

Street, Birkenhead

CONTENTS

Ambulance Service .

Page
. 44

Laundry Service .

Page

48

Ante natal Clinics .

. 22

Liasson Arrangements* .

66

Air pollution .

. 106

Maternal Mortality .

11

Births .

. 10

Maternity Emergency Unit ..

36

Blind Welfare

117

Maternity Outfits .

36

Camping .

. Ill

Meat and Food Inspection ..

75

Care of Mothers and Young

Mental Health Service* .

53

Children .

.. 22

Mental Health Service —

Child Guidance* .

.. 29

Proposals for expansion
and development .

61

Child Welfare Clinics ... .

.. 27

Midwiferv Services . .

. 34

Children Act, 1948 .

.. 80

Milk Supplies .

. 71

Chiropody Service* .

.. 51

Milk for School Children ..

. 74

Clearance and Demolition

Mother and Baby Homes

. 33

Orders .

.. 91

. 24

Day Nurseries .

32

Neo-natal Deaths .

Nurseries and Child Minders’

Deaths .

.. 12

Regulation Act, 1948 .

. 33

Dental Services .

.. 30

Nursing Equipment and

Diseases of Animals Acts

.. 78

Apparatus .

. 48

Disinfestation .

.. 110

NI 1 1 rc i n o Ho m os .

39

Domestic Help Service ... .

.. 52

Perinatal Mortality Survey ..

. 24

Economic Conditions ... .

.. 14

Pet Shops .

. 112

Environmental Health ...

.. 82

Pharmacy and Poisons Act ..

. 71

Factories Act* .

95

Post-natal Clinics .

23

Fertilizers and Feeding

Premature Babies .

23

Stuffs Act .

70

Prevention ol Illness, Care

46

Food and Drugs Act .

.. 70

and After-Care .

Food Hygiene .

. 86

Rag Flock and Other Fillings

. HI

Food Poisoning .

.. 19

Materials Act .

Handicapped Persons

.. 120

Rodent Control .

102 S

Health Centres .

.. 22

School Medical Inspection-

Health Education* .

.. 49

Appendix

Health Visiting .

.. 36

Sewerage and Drainage*

. 1U1 1

90 '

104*

Home Nursing .

... 38

Shop Acts .

Houses, Inhabited .

... 11

Swimming Pools* .

Housing .

. . . 90

Tuberculosis .

4m

Ipp f rP/irn

87

3W

14

52

Immunisation .

39

Vital Statistics* .

lCi

9<*

Infant \1nrta1itv

.. 13

Infectious Diseases .

... 17

YY dlUl DU p J

Welfare Foods .

3d

Junior Training Centre ...

... 60

Welfare Services .

IN

* Denotes — Incorporates

information specifically required by Mmistn

of Health.

Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Wallasey.

To The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the County Borough of Wallasey .

/ have pleasure in presenting to you the Annual Report on the Health,
l! elf are and School Health Services of the Borough for the year 1960.

1960 was a special year for Wallasey as the Borough celebrated its
Golden Jubilee of the granting of the Charter of Incorporation. The Health
Department took part in the exhibition in the Civic Hall, and its activities
over the fifty years were illustrated by figures, models and documents.

The report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1910 shows that
there were 149 deaths of infants under one year old, giving an Infant
Mortality rate of 86 per 1,000 births. The corresponding figures for 1960
are 45 deaths and a rate of 24.32. The Phthisis death rate per 1,000 of
population in 1910 was 0.7 (56 deaths) and in 1960 this was 0.0097 (10
deaths). The 1910 report also states that there were 1 cases of Smallpox
and 44 cases of Diphtheria with 4 deaths. In 1960 / am pleased to report
that there were no cases of either of these severe infectious diseases in the
Borough.

Some of the Department's activities in 1960 were depicted in the Charter
Celebrations film “Audemus dum Cavemus.”

Vital Statistics

The birth rate for the Borough was 17.88 per 1,000 population, much
about the same rate as in 1959 — 17.85. There were 45 deaths of infants
under the age of one year, giving an infant mortality rate of 24.32 as
compared with a rate of 26.06 in 1959. The perinatal mortality rate (still¬
births and deaths under one week combined per 1,000 total live and still¬
births) was 31.78 as compared with 37.69 in 1959. An analysis of the causes
of death of the infants under one week and the apparent causes of the
stillbirths is shown on pages 24 -27, and I am indebted to Dr. Grant,
Assistant Medical Officer of Health, for preparing that section of the
Report.

Deaths in the Borough in 1960 from all causes numbered 1,302, as
compared with 1,295 in 1959, giving a death rate of 12.59 per 1,000 popula¬
tion as compared with 12.55 in 1959. Cancer of the lung accounted for 51
deaths, six fewer than in 1959. and coronary artery disease 275, eleven
fewer than in 1959. There were ten deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis
as compared with eight in 1959. There were 76 deaths attributed to
bronchitis in 1960; this is an increase of nineteen on the previous year.
It is hoped that over the course of the next few decades an improvement
will be seen in the death rate from respiratory disease as a result of the
Council's Clean Air policy.

Infectious Diseases

/ am pleased to report that there was no serious outbreak of infectious
disease during the year. Three cases of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred.
All three cases had not been immunised. It is difficult to understand why
some parents do not take advantage of the protection available against this
disease and have their children protected with anti-poliomyelitis vaccine.

Health Kducation

fhe Superintendent Health Visitor and her Staff form the spearhead of
this important function of the Health Department. A full account of the
work done in this sphere can he found on pages 49 and 50.

I should just like to comment on the fact that the Health and Education
C ommittees are both much concerned at the state of the children’s teeth in
the Borough. During the autumn discussions took place in both Com-
mittees as to the best means of countering this, and, as stated in the fore-
[. U Or^ t^< School Health Service Report 1960, School Medical Officers,
entul Officers and School Health Visitors have all taken part in a
stafj)Ul^n tU l>romotc better oral hygiene, as have many of the teaching

I / n Pccember u fourth full-time Dental Officer was appointed and it is
- J°P(’d that this will allow schools to be visited more frequently, not only
dor dental inspections, but for talks on oral hygiene.

A " .,!t hoped that the report from the fluoridation demonstration areas in
nglesey, Watford and Kilmarnock will not be long delayed.

Horne Nursing Service

I j H'rv‘ce has continued to function smoothly throughout the year.
Wnten!?Uar* bliss E. Fairless took up her appointment as Super-

,.ent' fhcre has been practically a full complement of Staff through -
I Full details of the District Nurse Training Scheme set up in

u\ey in I960 can he seen on page 38 of the Report.

Domestic Help Service

This service continued to expand and this is reflected by the increased
number of hours worked, particularly with the old people in the Borough.

Ambulance Service

An additional stretcher case ambulance was purchased during the year in
order to meet the growing demands on this service. This new ambulance is
equipped with a modern resuscitator.

Mr. E. Buschenfeld took up his appointment as Chief Fire and Ambulance
Officer in January 1960.

Chiropody Service

A scheme was submitted to the Ministry of Health and approved in
March 1960, and was put into operation in May. A description of the
service and the number of patients treated and the number of treatments
given since the inception of the scheme up to 3\st December 1960 is given
on page 5 1 .

Anti-Tuberculosis (B.C.G.) Vaccination

Details of this work can be found on pages 46 -48. It is interesting to
note that, since the scheme for testing and vaccinating thirteen-year-old
school children commenced in 1955, the percentage found to be Mantoux
(' Tuberculin ) positive has steadily fallen and has reached the low figure of
7.3% in 1960. This is all to the good, as it shows that the total amount of
primary infection in the town is becoming less and less.

Mental Health Service

At the end of the section on Mental Health, I have included the
proposals for the expansion and development of the Mental Health Services
which have been approved by the Ministry of Health. Certain of the
proposals regarding staff have already been implemented. Additional staff
have been taken on at the Junior Training Centre to cope with the increased
number of children in attendance, and a new Mental Welfare Officer has
also been appointed. No hostel has yet been built, but during the year
several meetings were held with Officers of the Ministry of Health to
discuss preliminary sketch plans for a hostel. Pending the provision of an
Adult Training Centre, arrangements have been made to hold handicraft
classes for a small number of mentally disordered in the community, mostly
in the subnormal category, on Welfare premises following the amendment
of the scheme made under Sections 29 and 30 of the National Assistance
Act 1948 to include the mentally disordered in the definition of handi¬
capped persons.”

Welfare Services

The position with regard to residential accommodation for^old people
requiring care and attention was again difficult. The 16 beds in Lamorna,

“ Redcliffe ” and “ Newholme ” are quite inadequate for the needs of the
town. It is hoped that a further 68 beds will be available in 1961 with the

opening of “ Fernleigh and Manor Grange. , , » ,

As mentioned in my previous reports, much more could be done by the
Authority in providing specialised housing for old people, which would
greatly prolong the period before old people require a bed in a hostel or

During the year a new appointment was made a Welfare Officer to do
rehabilitation work giving advice and practical help to those familiesahout
to be evicted, or evicted and in temporary Welfare accommodation or
intermediate accommodation. The appointment has certainly proved itself
worthwhile as the Officer concerned has been fully occupied ever since she
took up her duties with the Welfare Section.

*n7~Z"t'he work o, the Public Health Inspectors can be ,oun£
in Section V of this report. Good progress^ has again been made in shim

in section v oj inn icpvn. . . . ? , „ rnvCT

clearance and a second five-year programme has been drawn up to

4 y' « i A/r a _ . J« , /in n /itrl I O f IF! t /? / V Of Ci, o '

clearance ana a seconu pvc-ycui ~ ; , ■ , ;t :,t

the years 1961-1965. As already mentioned earlier in tfJls fore* ' ■
honed that in the next few’ decades the inhabitants of W aliases will g
to reap the full benefits1 of the Council's Clean Air policy, and the work to
implement this policy is steadily going on in the Department.

In conclusion. I should like to thank the Chairman and Members of MJi
Health. General Health and Welfare Committees for their
sustained support throughout the year. I should also like to .

Town Clerk and other Chief Officials for their support "nd ^IpM
throughout the year, and also all members of the Staff eft P

for their loyal support and hard work.

I am, Mr. Mayor. Ladies and Gentlemen.

Your obedient servant,

HOWARD W. HALL,

Medical Officer of Health.

I PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS of the AUTHORITY

Medical Officer of Health and Principal School Medical Officer:
HOWARD W. HALL, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.

Town Hall, Wallasey. Telephone No. Wallasey 1600 — Ext. 120

Deputy Medical Officer of Health and Deputy Principal School Medical Officer •
WILLIAM F. CHRISTIAN, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.

Assistant Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer •

EDWARD J. A. O’REILLY, M.B., Ch.B., B.A.O. (Obstetrics)

Assistant Medical Officer of Health , School Medical Officer and Medical

Supervisor of Midzvives:

ESME I. GRANT, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.

Tuberculosis Officer ( Part-Time ):

JAMES BAXTER, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.

Principal Dental Officer:

C. J. LUYA, L.D.S.

Dental Officers (Whole-Time):

W. A. HENDERSON, L.D.S.

E. G. MASON, L.D.S.

T. H. M. MOULDS, L.D.S. (From 5/12/60)

Dental Officers (Part-Time):

T . H. M. MOULDS, L.D.S. (From 11/4/60 to 3/12/60)

Chief Public Health Inspector :

U GILPIN> B-Sc'(Econ-). M.A.P.H.I., A.M.Inst.F (Chartered Fuel Technologist)

Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector:

A. RIDGWAY

W. H. FARR
R. HUGHES
R. JONES

j- THOMPSON (to 24/7/60)
J- Q. CALLISTER

District Public Health Inspectors .

L. J. JONES (to 15/5/60)

G. CARR
W. GLADDEN

L. G. RINGROW (from 1/11/60)
K. J. WARBRICK (from 1/11/60)

- - vxivm 1/1 X/U KJ)

■ ' . Dames and Meal Inspector and Inspector under Diseases of Animals Acts

ana Orders:

G. A. OWEN

Shops Inspector:

R. L. BASCOMBE

Superintendent Health Visitor I School Nurse:
Mrs. K. SCHOFIELD

I .Hiss E A TP ™*Visit0rs!Sch°°lNur™ Whole-Time)

Miss a'. J EDGFNS Miss K- E- HIGGINS

,Miss C. E MURRFT T w*ss E- M' MORGAN

Mrs. E. P NOI AY' Mlss E WHITBURN

Mrs. A. J* SMITH Mlss M- B- JONES

Mn. wDdoIeyERBURN (to 30/1 1/60) m": mMkeaneS

Miss M. E. ASPINALL Mrs. E. SIMPSON (from 1/4/60)

Health Visitor I School Nurse (Part-Time)'
Mrs. I. D. WINTERBURN (from 1/12/60)

Municipal Midtvives:

Mrs. E. E. HINTON Mrs. P. SHACKLADY

Mrs. F. E. BOYD Mrs. A. B. TIMEWELL

Miss E. HOMER Miss I. K. PAISLEY

Miss E. WOODS

Chief Weights and Measures and Food and Drugs Inspector:

J. A. W. PRICE, Cert. Board of Trade

Weights and Measures and Food and Drugs Inspector:
J. A. ISHERWOOD, Cert. Board of Trade

Public Analyst ( Part-Time ):
TENNYSON HARRIS

Chief Administrative Assistant:
G. A. LOXHAM, D.P.A.

Clerical Staff:

A. YOUNG, D.M.A. (Senior Clerk)
(to 13/11/60)

J. M. GIBSON

A. E. LEWIS (to 22/5/60)

O. M. EDWARDS
N. J. POWER

Miss H. J. HARRIS

Miss E. MASTERS

Miss. P. WITTER (to 18/9/60)

Miss B. FISHWICK

Miss J. FIELDING (from 28/11/60)

Miss G. NASH

Miss G. BOOTH Mrs. J. NICHOLSON

Miss M. BLENCOWE Mrs. A. E. JONES

Miss S. LENNOX (to 7/2/60) Miss A. ELCOCK

Miss B. M. HERRIOT (from 3/10/60) Miss S. C. PEALING

Miss B. WOOD (from 29/2/60)

Part-Time Specialists discharging duties in connection with Special Clinics:

Mr. J. D. ELLIOTT EDWARDS, M.B., Ch.B., D.O.M.S. (Ophthalmic)
Mr. H. DAVIES, M.B., F.R.C.S.(Eng.), Ch.B., Ch.M. (Orthopaedic)

Matrons of Day Nurseries:

Miss E. GREENLY, Central Park Day Nursery
Miss G.E. MORGAN, Oakdale Day Nursery
Miss P. WARNER, Eastway Day Nursery

Superintendent District Nursing Service:

Miss E. FAIRLESS, S.R.N., SC.M., Q.N.S., H.V.Cert. (from 11/1/60)

District Nurses {Whole-Time) :

Mrs. M. PRENDERGAST
Mrs. S. DUDLEY
Miss B. JOY
Mrs. K. ELSON
Mrs. J. DON
Miss M. GOVIER
Mrs. M. HAZLETT
Mrs. H. M. GRAY
Mrs. D. EVANS
Mrs. E. M. BLEASE

Miss

Mrs.

Mrs.

Miss

Miss

Mrs.

J. A. OWEN
M. P. MUTCH
V. BLUNT (to 31/10/60)
J. M. GASKIN
S. M. DAVIES

I. A. MATTHEWS (from 1/7/60)

Miss B. E. JONES (from 1/7/60)

Mrs. K. DUNNE (from 1/4/60)
Mrs. D. M. WINDER (to 31/5/60)

ill

District Nurses (Part-Time) -

. M. M. KING

. I. A. MATTHEWS (to 30/6/60)

C. JONES (to 13/7/60)
Mrs. P. A. OWEN (to 21/8/60)

Mrs. G. WALL
Mrs. G. ULYATT (to 31/5/60)
Mrs. P. A. BUTLER (to 31/8/60)
Mrs. P. MERRALL (to 17/1/60)

Domestic Help Organiser :
Mrs. G. M. FALLA

Supervisor Junior Training Centre:
Miss I. P. D. MACDONALD

Mental Welfare Officers:

F. WALL

K. MERCER

Mrs. E. A. BRERETON

J. HOUGHTON (from 1/12/60)

Mental Health Worker:

Miss M. V. PHILLIPS

WELFARE SERVICES

Senior Welfare Officer:
R. C. OLLIVE

Welfare Officers:

F. WALL

K. MERCER

Mrs. E. A. BRERETON

J. HOUGHTON (from 1/12/60)

Welfare Officer (Rehabilitation) :

Miss N. G. TALBOT (from 1/3/60)

Welfare Officer (Handicapped Persons):
Mrs. W. DAVIES

Handicrafts Teacher (Handicapped Persons):
Mrs. C. W. GRIFFITH

Home Teachers of the Blind:

SS A' ROGERS Miss I. FOGGIN (to 31/1/60)

M.ss M. M. GILLESPIE from 2/5/60)

Clerical Staff:
A. C. HINTON
H. S. FLYNN
Miss D. M. PERKINS
Miss E. C. BIRCHALL

Matrons of Hostels for the Aged:
Miss E. PARSONS, “Lamorna”
Mrs. A. P. JACKSON, “Redcliffc”
Miss M. ROBERTS, “Newholme”

Warden — Reception Centre :

Mrs. G. M. TEAGUE

PART I.

Vital Statistics,

etc.

10

VITAL STATISTICS, Etc.

(a) As requested by the Ministry of Health, in accordance vsith

1959

1960

Live Births — Males .

938

950

Females .

904

900

1,842

1,850

Live birth rate per 1,000 population ...

17.85

17.88

Illegitimate live births per cent of total

live births

4.02

4.16

Still Births — Males .

21

20

Females .

21

18

42

38

Rate per 1,000 total live and still births ...

22.29

20.13

Total live and still births .

1,884

1,888

Infant deaths (deaths under one year)

Males .

21

28

Females .

27

17

48

45

Infant Mortality Rates —

Total infant deaths per 1,000 total

live births

26.06

Legitimate infant deaths per 1 ,000

legitimate live births

26.58

24.82

Illegitimate infant deaths per 1,000

illegitimate live births

13.51

iz.vv

Neo-natal Mortality Rate

(deaths under 4 weeks per

1,000 total live births)

20.09

15. op

Early Neo-natal Mortality Rate
(deaths under one week per

1 ,000 total live births)

15.74

1 1.5*

Perinatal Mortality Rate (Stillbirths and
deaths under one week combined per

1,000 total live and still births) .

37.69

3 l./fl

Maternal Mortality (including abortion)—

1

1

0.53

Rate per 1,000 total live and still births

0.53

11

(b) Other details: —

1959

Census population (April, 1951)
Registrar General s estimated population

„ at mid-year

Deaths to 31st December

Males .

Females .

101,369

103,200

629

666

1,295

1960

101,369

103,450

653

649

1,302

Death rate (unadjusted) per 1,000

of estimated population 12.55 12.59

Death rate per 1,000 of estimated popula¬
tion adjusted by area comparability

factor of 1.02 12.80 12.84

Death iate per 1,000 of estimated

population — England and Wales 11.6
Birth rate per 1 ,000 of estimated

population — England and Wales 16.5
Phthisis death rate per 1,000 of

population 0.078

u.uy /

Area in acres as ascertained by Ordnance

Survey, January, 1935 5,961 5 961

River and sea frontage . Slightly less than 8 miles

Inhabited houses at 31st December . 30,939 31 17Q

Uninhabited houses at 31st December ... 559 5Q5

Rateable value of the borough as at

31st December £1,387,160 £1,402,161
Y. . . , . . 1959/60 1960/61

°' ld' rale . £5,538 £5.685

PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH

Heart Disease .

1959

479

Cancer .

*+ /Z

900

Respiratory Diseases —

Pneumonia

ZUo

/7/T ,

Bronchitis ..

1 9Z

00 )
76
8)

Other .

IX 1

1 Jo

Vascular lesions of nervous system
Violent Deaths (including suicides)

. i« j

187

42

1960

466

214

150

188

53

'I960

1 here

maternity mortality

was one maternal death of a Wallasey resident during

12

SUMMARY OF DEATHS DURING THE YEAR 1960

Sexes

Causes of Death

M.

T uberculosis —
respiratory
T uberculosis — other
Syphilitic disease
Diphtheria
Whooping cough
Meningococcal infec¬
tion ...

Acute polio-myelitis
Measles...

Other infective and
parasitic diseases
Malignant neoplasm-
stomach

Malignant neoplasm-
lung, bronchus
Malignant neoplasm-
breast

Malignant neoplasm-
uterus

Other malignant and
lymphatic neo¬
plasms
Leukaemia, Aleukaemia
Diabetes

Vascular lesions ot
nervous system
Coronary disease
angina

Hypertension with
heart disease . . .

Other heart disease
Other circulatory dis¬
ease ...

Influenza
Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Other diseases of

respiratory system ••
Ulcer of stomach and
duodenum ...
Gastritis, Enteritis and
diarrhoea
Nephritis and
Nephrosis

Hyperplasia of prostate
Pregnancy, childbirth
abortion

Congenital malforma¬
tions ...

Other defined and ill-
defined diseases
Motor vehicle accidents
All other accidents
Suicide ...

Homicide and opera¬
tions of war

All Causes

18

40

All

Ages

3

2

1

10

2

1

47

2

1

81

162

15

68

8

34

56

3
10

6

4
11

8

43

4

13

12

2

19

11

19

4

56

5

6

107

113

16

92

22

r2

20

5

4

4

9

1

2

70
3
9
9

19

3]

— 3

t>53 > 649

1 °"

1-

5-

15-

i _ i

I

in

<N

45-

65-

75-

1 —

—

—

—

1

l\

2

“7

2

1

—

—

—

~ !

_

l

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1 —

—

—

—

—

1 j

1

1

\ -

—

—

—

—

10

6

21

1 -

—

—

—

2

22 !

21

6

] -

—

—

—

3

8

6

2

1 —

—

—

—

1

1

1

1

3

—

3

2

33

1

2

36

2

31

1

3

—

—

—

—

7

31

50

100

—

—

—

3

73

90

109

—

} —

—

—

1

6

4

20

8

27

1<

lOt

) —

3 7

3 1

—

—

—

1

1

4

8

20

6

12

og

i ‘l

2<

3

2

3 I —

—

—

1

3

i

4 —

—

—

—

3

3

0 4

—

—

1

_

1

—

3 —

1 _

—

—

—

i

3

1

4

2

1

—

—

—

1

—

0 9

—

—

—

1

3 22

7 —
.2 1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

4

1

4

4

12

3

4
12

1 21
2

2

3 I 1

—

1

1

—

—

_ — —

f?

1021 45

2

5

8

45

287

332

■Ui

13

TABLE SHOWING (a) Infant Deaths and Death Rates.

(b) Neo-natal deaths and Death Rates.

(c) Deaths and Death Rates (infants 4

weeks to 12 months).

Infants

Neo-natal

4 weeks — 12

months

Year Death:

Rate

3 per
1,000
Births

Death

Rate
s per
1,000
Births

%of

Total

Infant

Deaths

1. . . ,

Deaths

Rate

per

! 1,000
Births

— [< -

% of
Total
Infant
! Deaths

1944 77

43.0

34

19.0

44.16

1

43

24.0

55.84

1945 97

56.8

38

22.3

39.18

.... ...

59

34.57

60.82

1946 87

42.2

51

24.7

58.62

36

17.48

41.38

1947 111

51.1

57

26.9

51.35

54

25.09

48.65

1948 78

43.5

38

20.67

48.72

- —

40

22.35

51.28

1949 64

35.8

34

19.0

53.13

|— -

30

16.82

46.87

1950 49

28.7

28

16.41

57.14

21

12.31

42.86

1951 55

32.4

35

20.62

63.63

1

20

11.19

36.37

1952 56

33.3

43

25.62

76.78

13

7.75

23.22

1953 41

24.7

29

17.51

70.74

12

- -

7.25

29.26

1954 43

25.1

29

16.94

67.44

14

8.12

32.56

11955 41

25.4

29

17.96

70.74

12

7.44

29.26

11956 42

- - - - - -

24.07

31

17.77

73.81

11

6.30

26.19

■1957 48

26.10

33

17.94

68.75

15

8.16

31.25

1958 44

24.69

32

17.96

72.73

12

6.73

27.27

1959 48

26.06

37

1.

20.09

77.08

11

5.97

22.92

I960 1 45

24.32

29 1

15.68

64.44

16 1

8.64

35.56

14

TABLE SHOWING the Infantile Mortality rates of the
Borough as compared with the figures for the whole
of England and Wales for the census years from 1901
to 1951 and consecutive years to I960.

Deaths under 1 year per 1,000 Live Births, England and Wales.

Year

Wallasey

England
and Wales

1901

142.0

151

1911

109.0

130

1921

59.0

83

1931

44.8

66

1941

78.9

60

1951

32.4

29

1952

33.3

27

1953

24.7

27

1954

25.1

25

1955

25.4

25

1956

24.07

24

1957

26.10

23

1958

24.69

23

1959

26.06

22

1960

24.32

_ 22 _

ILLEGITIMACY

During the year there were 77 illegitimate births (42 Male:
35 Female) recorded by the Registrar-General as belonging to the
borough, compared with 74 in 1959. This gives an illegitimate
birth-rate of 41.62 per thousand total live births, as compared with

40.17 in 1959.

There was one death of an illegitimate infant during the year
1960 and 5 illegitimate still births (1 male: 4 female).

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

The number of unemployed persons in the borough m
January, 1960. was 1.677 and in December. '.325. ^ compared
with 1.800 and 1,535 respectively in January and December,

The following amounts were expended on Unemployment,
etc.. Benefit by the Wallasey Employment Exchange :

Unemployment Benefit . £121.210

Assistance Allowances . £79.155

The number of persons on the Unemployment Register norm
ally starts to diminish in February each year, until July, "ben -
at Us lowest. The figures for July, 1959 were 1.214 and for July.

1960. 1,1 16.

PART II.

Occurrence and Control
of Infectious Diseases

CASES OF INFECTIOUS AND OTHER NOTIFIABLE DISEASES
NOTIFIED EN WALLASEY DURING 1960

NOTIFIABLE

DISEASES

Cases notified at ages

(under
Totals! 1

Small-pox
Malaria ...

Food Poisoning . . .

Dysentery

Diphtheria (including
Membranous Croup)

Erysipelas

Scarlet Fever . . .

Paratyphoid

Typhoid Fever ...

Puerperal Pyrexia

Meningococcal Infection

Poliomyelitis (Paralytic)

Poliomyelitis

(Non-Paralytic)

Pneumonia

Ophthalmia Neonatorum

Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Other forms of Tuber¬
culosis ...

Measles

Whooping Cough

Encephalitis Lethargica

Post Infectious
Encephalitis ...

Acute Infective
Encephalitis . . .

Polio-Encephalitis

totals ...

5

100

7

55

1

11

1

3

10

— 1

23

68 | —
10

587 27

46 I 6

53

6

917 38

3

4

5-9 1

0-14 1

5-24

25—44 <

15-64

65 k
over

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1

—

—

—

—

1

1

1

1

9

11

4

18

9

6

20

7

2

--

—

—

—

—

1

5

1

4

10

8

21

8

2

1

—

—

—

—

—

1

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

3

8

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

i

_ —

1

1

I

_

-

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

3

3

12

4

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

“ '

2

—

i _

—

3

15

5

31

12

—

—

—

—

2

3

3

2

72

85

79

267

4

—

—

10

6

1 2

15

1

—

1 —

— —

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

j y

99

112

93

322

26

32

43

|

59

I *

17

INFECTIOUS DISEASES — INVESTIGATIONS AND VISITS

OF SURVEILLANCE

visito^and T' °f '•°21 Visks Were made ^ ‘be health

tacts as follows - ea“h lnSpect0rS t0 mfectio"s cases and con-

Health Visitors .

Public Health Inspectors

Enquiry

Visits of

Total

visits

Surveillance

visits

588

89

677

108

236

344

696

325

1,021

i A .l°tal of 769 specimens were submitted to the Public Health
Laboratory ,n connection with the occurrence of cases Qf foS
po . < ning, dysentry and meningococcal infections.

Diphtheria

diphtheria1 notified ^ SUCCession there were no cases of

firmedhcaSani,Lmble- ^ theunumber of notifications, con-
0 Lases and immunisations each year since 1934: _

C onfirmed

Y ear

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

Notifications Cases

258 24 1

275 239

259 227

24 1 209

255 235

187 185

1 43 1 28

220 i 82

312 223

157 79

109 59

i 20 66

96 52

29 8

27 13

14 ,4

11 6

6 5

7 3

14 10

5 3

3 2

Number

Immunised

Deaths

—

25

181

18

889

12

451

12

657

13

110

1 1

230

5

951

10

3,490

12

2,263

3

1,257

3

1,411

1

1,291

*1

1 ,028

*1

1,459

f 3

1,208

1,301

1,328

1,321

1,120

*1

1,483

1,325

1,357

1,084

1,449

1 ,009

1,853

*Not immunised. t2 not immunised and I inward transfer.

18

The fall in the incidence of diphtheria is shown by the follow-
inn table of corrected notifications and deaths for F-ngland and

Wales since 1944: —

Year

Deaths

Corrected notifications

1944

934

23,199

1945

722

18,596

1946

472

11,986

1947

244

5,609

1948

156

3,575

1949

84

1 ,890

1950

49

962

1951

33

664

1952

32

376

1953

23

266

1954

9

173

1955

13

155

1956

8

53

1957

6

37

1958

8

78

1959

1

102

1960

3

69

It will be noted

that there has

been a slight increase ir

number of deaths during 1960.

The importance of parents having their children immunised
against diphtheria cannot be over-emphasised.

Scarlet Fever.

55 cases of scarlet fever were notified during 1960 compared

with 84 cases in 1959 and 134 in 1958. There were no deaths
This infectious disease is of a very mdd type compared wit

that of twenty or thirty years ago. so much so that many doctors
in the borough do not notify cases. Notification is. however, impor¬
tant when a food handler is concerned.

Puerperal Pyrexia .,.11

There were 1 1 notifications of puerperal pyrexia during tne

year, none of which proved fatal

Ophthalmia Neonatorum

There were no cases of ophthalmia neonatorum non 1
ing the year.

19

Whooping Cough

46 cases were notified during the year. Of these seven children
had received a full course of immunisation against whooping
cough: three children had received one injection only and two had
received two injections only. No cases were fatal. During 1960
a total of 1,729 children were immunised.

Measles

There were 587 cases of measles notified during 1960 com¬
pared with 477 in 1959. There were no deaths.

Health visitors do not visit homes where it is known that the
standard of care is satisfactory.

Paratyphoid Fever

One case of Paratyphoid B was confirmed during the year.
ie patient was a boy aged 1 1 years who was admitted to hospital
and operated on for appendicitis. He was then found to be also

fondm Paratj?h0'd B- Phage L Varie£y 9 and was trans-
terrui to St. James Hospital, Birkenhead. The long lapse of time

etween the onset of the illness and its notification prevented suffi¬
cient evidence being obtained regarding the food consumed prior to

Food Poisoning

Only 5 cases ot food poisoning were confirmed during the

i memberTred tT? ^ ^ a" °f the cases on'y

andm,n F f°“"d *> *

found ,o b 0356 T °ther memberS °f the household vvere

r:t|S,TteQrTO The causative in 3

r s *3S Sdlm°nella typh. murium, in 1 case Staph Pvoacncs
.»guU,. P„llive and „ thl remamin. ^ s>,mone,|a Th*mp

Dysentery

year 345 !! ^ °f S0"ne ***"«* during the

■ health ZZTT m f ViSUS °f SUrVei"ance Were made by
,subm,t.ej r,h pPUK| C u inSpeCt°rS- 538 specimens were

■examination All" 1. Lab°rat0,y for bacteriological

: consecutive s ** kCPt Under surveilla"ce until three

specimens were found to he free from ,v ti
Paganisms. e ,roni Pyogenic

20

Poliomyelitis

Three cases of acute poliomyelitis occurred during the year.
It is significant to note that in each case the patient had not been
immunised.

Details are as follows: —

1. Girl aged 4 years. Mild case with paralysis of both
deltoid muscles. She made a good recovery.

2. Housewife aged 39 years. Both legs were paralysed.
At the time of writing this report some eight months
later the patient is still in hospital, and will shortly be
transferred to a rehabilitation unit.

3. Girl aged 9 years. Initially both legs were affected
and also the muscles of respiration. The child has
now made a good recovery, and there is no residual
paralysis of any sort.

Meningitis

One case of pneumococcal meningitis occurred in a child aged
one year and six months. This baby was born with a pilonidal
sinus and it is probable that meningitis developed as a direct com¬
plication of this lesion.

Smallpox

No case of smallpox occurred during the year.

PART III.

Services provided under Part III of
I he National Health Service Act, 1946.

Section 21 — Health Centres.

„ 22— Care of Mothers and Young Children.

>* 23 — Midwifery Services.

•» 24 — Health Visiting.

*» 25 — Home Nursing.

” 26 Vaccination and Immunisation.

»» 27 — Ambulance Service.

„ 28— Prevention of Illness— Care and After-Care.

- 29— Domestic Help Service.

»» 28 and 51 — Mental Health Services.

22

The National Health Service Act > 1946.

SECTION 21 — HEALTH CENTRES

No Health Centres have been constructed or are in course of
construction in Wallasey.

Details of a proposed Health Centre in the Leasowe Estate
were submitted to the Health Committee and the matter referred
to the Wallasey Executive Council. A questionnaire was sent to
all residents in the area. As the Executive Council did not wish,
however, to proceed with the matter, it was resolved that plans
be prepared for the construction of a Clinic only.

SECTION 22— CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG

CHILDREN

Ante-Natal Clinics- These clinics are held as follows: —

(a) The Mid wives’ Clinics :

Alternate Mondays at Merton Road from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Alternate Monday evenings at Water Street 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesday evenings Water Street 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday evenings, Moreton Clinic 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The following are details of attendances during 1960: —

Sessions

Expectant

Mothers

No. of

held

attending

attendances

Water Street .

51

171

783

Merton Road .

48

185

717

Oaken holt Road ...

52

166

678

151

522

2,178

(/>) The Assistant Medical Officer of Health’s Clinics :

Water Street and Merton Road — Alternate Mondays at
1-45 p.m.

Moreton Clinic — 3rd Friday in the month at 1-45 p.m.
The following are details of attendances during 1 960: —

Expectant mothers on books at January 1st ... 24

New cases during the year .

Names on books at December 31st . 13

Attendances of Expectant Mothers . 148

Tn most county boroughs the midwives’ clinics have now al¬
most completely superseded those of the Assistant Medical Officers
of Health. The majority of expectant mothers who are going to •
have a domiciliary confinement book the midwife at her clinic an
then attend as requested at monthly or fortnightly intervals. lhc>
also visit their own doctor for a regular medical and obstetrical
examination and thus both members of the team that will be con* •
cerned with the actual confinement are well acquainted with m a
patient, and alive to any difficulties or problems which may an* •
when labour commences.

23

There can be little excuse now for bad or inadequate ante¬
natal care, and it is because of this that we should expect to see a
still lower maternal and infant mortality rate.

Toxaemia of pregnancy still accounts for the majority of still¬
births and maternal deaths, and everything possible must be done
to reduce the incidence of this condition.

On the whole, there is good co-operation between our mid-
wives and the general practitioners, and my only regret is that the
role of the Assistant Medical Officer of Health in the present
scheme of ante-natal care is becoming so small and insignificant.
1 here are still a few patients who, for one reason or another, prefer
to attend the Assistant Medical Officer’s local authority clinic, or,
are referred by midwife or general practitioner for blood test or
second opinion. Relaxation exercises are held at the midwives’
clinics and these are made available to any expectant mother who
wishes to attend.

More cases are now accepted at Highfield Maternity Hospital.
These patients attend their doctor’s ante-natal clinic only, and thus
do not get the opportunity to benefit from the health education
provided for the expectant mother by the staff of the local

authority. The importance of such education to the expectant
mother has now been fully recognised by the World Health Organi¬
sation. I he object of maternity care is to ensure that every expec¬
tant and nursing mother maintains good health, learns the art of
child care, has a normal delivery and bears healthy children, and
it is to this end that we must all strive.

Post-Natal Clinics

7 mothers attended for post-natal examination during the year,
making 11 attendances. In addition the health visitors and mid-
vvives encourage and stress the importance of mothers attending
for post natal examination by their own doctors.

Care of Premature Babies

I he Midwives, Health Visitors and Maternity Hospitals work
ln close liaison with each other to ensure that premature infants
receive the correct care and attention in the home.

I he Maternity Hospitals notify the Department of premature
b‘rths, so that the delay between the date of discharge and the date
the health visitor’s first call is as little as possible.

24

Home Helps are provided when necessary in cases where
premature infants are bom at home.

The following table gives details of premature live births dur¬
ing the year: —

Weight at
birth

3 lb. 4 oz. or less
(1,500 gms. or
less)

Over 3 lb. 4 oz.
up to and incl¬
uding 4 lb. 6 oz.
(1,500-2,000
gms.)

Over 4 lb. 6 oz
up to and incl¬
uding 4 lb. 15
oz. (2,000-2,250
gms.)

Over 4 lb. 15 oz.
up to and incl
uding 5 lb. 8 oz.
(2,250-2,500
gms.)

Totals

Premature Live Births

Born in
Hospital

3

o

h

21

23

45

98

T}<

S O

■HU

Q

00

CS

.2 M

on

15

22

42

81

Born at home
and nursed
entirely at
home

3

o

h

15

20

<N

.Q-g

XX>

r

13 t ii

Q*

00

<N

£ >.
> CO

>T)

3

CO

15

20

Born at home
and trans¬
ferred to hos¬
pital on or
before 28th
day

cd

w

O

H

r

c n

X X

00

cs

V

so
.► «

3

CO

Born in
nursing home

and nursed
entirely there

o

h

00

cs

c t: ,

5:1

3

* O

"3 <n

O I-

CO

Born in nur¬
sing home and
transferred to
hospital on
or before
28th day

o

h

<N

xx>

* O

T3 c/3
1) u

O’6

oo

cs

•o «

I*

3

to

Still-Births

Premature

.5*3

c 5.
•s «
O O

Ox:

14

o

6

o

X

c

u

o

H

Cx

•H

C “ 1
fc c :
0- ■
CQ

The Public Health Department has scales which can be had
on loan for weighing premature babies in the homes, No charge
is made. Fifty-four parents took advantage of this service during
the year.

The Health Visitors attended 43 Saturday morning sessions at
Dr. Farquhar’s premature baby clinics at Highfield during the year.

Stillbirths and Neo-Natal Deaths.

An investigation has been made of the causes of death, and
the nature of foetal and congenital abnormalities (if present) ot all
premature and full time stillbirths and neo-natal deaths in the
borough during 1960.

The results are tabled below: —

Total number of births . 1*888

Total number of stillbirths .

Premature . 14

Full Term . 19

25

Total number of neo-natal deaths
(age 28 days and under)

Premature . 17

Full Term . 12

Foetal abnormalities were present in four stillbirths.
Congenital abnormalities were present in 8 neo-natal deaths.

Abnormalities

The foetal abnormalities present in the four stillbirths were as
follows: —

Anencephelic head . 3

Abnormality of the external genitalia 1

The congenital abnormalities present in 8 neo-natal deaths were
as follows: —

t. Spina bifida

Multiple abnormalities of skull Died aged 3 days
Talipes Equino-varus J

2. Aneneephalic head Died aged 2 days.

3. Spina bifida and hypdrocephalus Died aged 3 weeks.

Patent ductus arteriosus
Pseudo-hermaphrodite

Multiple skeletal defects aSed 45 minutes.

Flypoplasia of lungs

Congenital heart disease

Congenital renal agenesis
Hypoplasia of kidneys
Absence of bladder

Died aged 3 days.

Died aged 20 minutes.

7.

8.

Congenital jejunal atresia
Hypospadias

Died aged 3 weeks.

Died of broncho-pneumonia
aged 16 days.

Apparent cause of stillbirth
Premature Stillbirths :

Asphyxia .

Atelectasis .

Maceration .

Anencephaly .

Cerebral or intra-cranial haemorrhage
Erythroblastosis foetalis

14

26

Full-term Stillbirths :

Asphyxia and atelectasis .

Asphyxia due to ruptured uterus .

Tentorial tear and asphyxia .

Maceration .

Cerebral haemorrhage ... . . .

Anencephaly . . .

Breech and contracted pelvis . .

Severe anaemia and cardiac failure .

Retro-peritomeal haemorrhage and shock

i'fc ■ ...

Premature neo-natal deaths :

Atelectasis . . .

Atelectasis with gross general deformity ...

Anencephalic . .

lntra-ventricular cerebral haemorrhage ...

Pyaemia due to liver and lung abscess .

Broncho-pneumonia 2 lbs. 4 ozs .

Prematurity 1 lb. \ oz.

3 lb. 2 ozs .

2 lbs.

Full-term neo-natal deaths :

Broncho-pneumonia and atelectasis .

Cerebral haemorrhage .

Congenital cardiac disease . .

Toxoplasmosis with cysts on liver and brain
Jejunal atresia and gangrene of small bowel
Hydrocephalus and spina bifida .

Spina bifida. Talipes equino-varus and

multiple abnormalities of skull
Hvdrops foetalis with congenital renal

disease — absence of bladder

19

17

12

(The analysis of stillbirths is based on the information avail¬
able to the department locally).

Analysis of the stillbirths and perinatal deaths is as follows —

Still births. Total 33.

Asphyxia and pulmonary syndrome

Intra-cranial haemorrhage and birth

trauma

Maceration .

Anencephaly .

Miscellaneous . .

Erythroblastosis or haemolytic disease
J of the newborn

Neo-Natal deaths. Total 29.

Atelectasis and pulmonary syndrome
Intra-cranial haemorrhage and birth injury

45%

18%

15%

9%

9%

4%

38%

21%

27

Congenital Abnormalities . 7 14%

Prematurity (cause unknown) . 3 10%

Miscellaneous . 2 7%

The methods of investigation and classification of the causes
of perinatal mortality vary considerably, but for practical purposes
the hard core of stillbirths and neo-natal deaths is made up of
prematurity, asphyxia and atelectasis, birth injury and congenital
malformations.

1 he dominant maternal factor in these deaths is still toxaemia
of pregnancy and every etfort must be made to reduce this present
perinatal mortality rate by better ante-natal care, careful selection
of cases for hospital confinement and further research into
toxaemia of pregnancy, and the other causes mentioned above.

With the introduction in accordance with the Population
(Statistics) Act, 1960, of the new stillbirth certificate, it is hoped
that more light will be thrown on the causes of stillbirths.

Child Welfare Clinics

Although the pattern of the local authority’s child welfare
clinics has not changed outwardly since the inception of the
National Health Service, and their popularity in Wallasey remains
unaltered, attention is being directed to a wider concept of health,
anJ includes in its scope emotional, mental and environmental
factors. It is with this aspect in mind that the advice and help
given at these clinics, by health visitors and medical officers is
directed more and more to the promotion of sound emotional and
psychological development in the child.

Physical health is, of course, not neglected, and the weekly
weighing and consultation about baby’s progress and feeding is
the first consideration, but more and more often now do the
mothers seek advice from us about early behaviour difficulties, and
they welcome the opportunity of discussing these at some length
with the medical officer and the health visitor. They realise only
too well the importance of trying to nip these psychological prob¬
lems in the bud at the earliest possible moment.

in some cases, the environmental factors as well as the
personal relationships have to be re-adjusted and, where this is not
possible or not accepted, it may be found necessary to refer the
mother and child to a psychiatrist or Child Guidance Clinic for
'Urther advice and treatment.

0

The continuation and extension of mass immunisation of the
year old child against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus,

rh ia nuye, Vs and sma,,P°x is a major concern of the maternal and

^niid health service, and, with the exception of the vaccination

gainst smallpox which is carried out by the family doctor, these

measures are all made available either at the child welfare clinics

a special clinics. The aim is to complete the primary course

' !fher'a- pertussis and tetanus in early infancy, by about 5

,.t \S' and *° ^lve 3 ^oosfer dose at 18 months, and again before

■cnool enlrv s»nrl i n t k /1 — 1 : - .1 • •

I at 6

entry and in the case of poliomyelitis, this is commenced

a thir 1 i”0,' tw° doses bein8 g'ven at 4 - 6 week intervals, and
• mird dose 7 months later.

28

With modern advances in the treatment of the young deaf
child, early ascertainment is essential for full benetit to be obtained,
and it is to this end that our health visitors have had special train¬
ing in the application of screening tests of hearing in very young
children.

Early detection of physical handicap is also essential, and the
staff of the Child Welfare Clinics have a unique opportunity of
detecting such conditions as congenital disclocation of the hip,
strabismus, cerebral palsy, feet defects and defects of vision and

hearing.

Routine examination of the baby’s urine at about 8 weeks
may reveal the rare metabolic disease known as phenylketonuria,
which is known to cause severe mental retardation but which, if
discovered early enough, responds well to dietary treatment.

The toddlers’ clinics which are held twice a month at Moreton
are quite well attended (about 50% to 60% of those called up,
attend) and the mothers who come seem to appreciate this oppor¬
tunity of having their child medically examined, and of discussing
with the doctor any behaviour problems which may have arisen.
Habit training and food fads are the problems most frequently
brought to our notice and a little advice and a lot of re-assurance

seem to produce good results.

I should like to take this opportunity once again of thanking
our voluntary helpers who come along so regularly and help wit
the weighing and charting, and make tea for the mothers, thereby
enabling the health visitors to undertake the more imports*
aspects of child welfare work, such as health education and talks

on mothercraft.

The Clinics at which a doctor attends on
held in the afternoon of the following days:

Health Clinic, Water Street .

Health Clinic, Oakenholt Road, Moreton ...

Parish Hall, Wallasey Village .

Trinity Church Hall, Manor Road .

Congregational Church Hall, Princess Road
Leasowe Children’s Hospital .

each occasion are

Tuesdays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Thursdays

1st, 2nd and 4th

Wednesday
in month

29

The number of attendances during the year was

Water

Street

Moreton

i

Princess

Road

Wallasey

Village

Trinity

Hall

Liscard

1 I easowe
Hospital

1

• Totals

Children
under
one year
of age

2,169

2,580

2,468

2,522

1

1,628

447

11,814

Children
between
one and
five years

847

759

907

1

971

j

— - - .

847

— -

336

1

4,667

Toddlers’ Clinic
Number of Sessions held

Number of children called up . 23

Number who attended . . 575

(n h'S nUmber is included in M°reton Child Welfare Clinic figures)

Child Guidance

Authority in S^borough" fro^wh'di^th^ (!j|f|dLoCa'| Educalion

addition, there is a Child Psychiatric n •* °! ^!S Publication. In
service. J am pleased to w Cf^nit attached to the hospital
between both clinch anH • f that good relationships exist

I between the clinics ’and atafTS,*" tra"^ab£ both

Medical Officer of Men itti u School Health Service and

Officer. Information is also made w Schoo) Medical
tioners. made ava'lable to the general practi-

thro ug h o u t^th e y ea r a mils Th us^a b I e‘ 'w i r h°hP ' 18 ' pSychiatric clinic
T the children's home h'lrL- c a ’ W1^ ber Personal knowledge

1 baviour or emotionafdeveloDnient'k rn* aSS,S‘ When a ch"d’s ^
t0 Circular 3/59 it was possible £ using concern- Subsequent
•Psychiatrist front the hosnio.? b arrange for a consultant

and groups of health visitors onTnrh'0 a^ress the medical staff
counter at the Child WMf m- problems as they may en-

•Mth mothers ofyoung'children~ln,CS a"d in their regu,ar contacts

child guidance service 'and^ those*™ tcntr®s are familiar with the
fa* Parents themselves refer i ° C Lases where they cannot advise

Alternatively areangemenfr. e “f t0, the child guidance team

‘-rs for ^ •

30

Distribution of Welfare Foods

Welfare foods, i.e.. National dried milk, cod liver oil, orange
juice and vitamin tablets were distributed from the following points
during the year: —

25a Liscard Village ; Health Clinic, Moreton ; Water Street
Clinic, and at the clinics held in Wallasey Village Parish Hall,
Princess Road Church Hall and Leasowe Hospital.

The following table shows the amounts of welfare foods which
have been distributed during the years 1956 to I960 inclusive:-

1956 !

1957

1958

1959

1960

NATIONAL DRIED MILK

Number of packets given free

„ sold .

506

46,644

512

38,127

695

31,110

1,244

29,125

1,262

25,553

COD LIVER OIL, ORANGE JUICE, ETC.
Number of bottles of:

Cod Liver Oil ... .

Vitamin Capsules

Orange Juice (Free) .

„ (Sold) .

11,154

5,313

487

78,823

9,252

5,150

624

81,771

5,257

4,539

65

48,139

5,168

5,022

2

47,842

5,396

5,031

30

46,115

During the year the number of packets of dried milk (other
than National dried milk), cereals, etc., sold at the Clinics
17.999 realising a total of £2.393 14s. 4d„ compared with 15.88-
packets sold in 1959 which realised £2,012 10s. 5d.

Priority Dental Services

The following tables give particulars with regard to the dental
care of expectant and nursing mothers, and children under schoo

(a) Number of officers employed at the end of the year
on a salary basis in terms of wholetime officers to the
maternity and child welt are service.

Principal Dental Officer .

Dental Officers .

(b) Number of officers employed at the end of the year,

on a sessional basis, in terms of wholetime officers to
the maternity and child welfare service .

(c) Number of dental clinics in operation during the year

(d) Number of sessions (i.e., equivalent complete half
days) devoted to maternity and child welfare patients

during the year .

£th

|ths

4

70

NUMBERS PROVIDED WITH DENTAL CARE :

31

fa 1
o
T3

03 33

Q

in

VO

Ov

b0 f;

C I

111

4> S

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o

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w

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fa

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* 2
00

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£

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oJ G< q

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£

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33

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x >3
fa z

Children under Five

32

Day Nurseries

Dr. Esme 1. Grant. Assistant Medical Officer of Health,
reports as tollows:

“ The rinv nurseries in Wallasey are still well-attended. It is
very dScuft io ma ntafn a high average attendance because there
a^so many factors which can lower th.s-an ep.dem.c of some
infectious disease, school holidays, wh“

There is no doubt, however, that ^tlKiMOT in

-four grained staff, than

Sr* — *

”1. i. . S.e» d«l .n®» i» ““ E ®

incalculable harm done lo chiWren »l leudn je

,be car. of mm* m* ™ » 4»> ,h”n Se neceaaifc of life

work to earn money tor luxu , there is little real proof

but 1 think this is grossly exa^ger ^children are happy and con-
of it. Almost, without exception the children are .PP^ cheery(

tented, and thrive both menaj nurseries. They play well, eat
friendly, noisy atmosphere catered for, and when it is

well, sleep well, and have all thei - . mothers, full of excite-
time to go home, they run happi y the day*s happenings. I

ment and pleasure, and eag e c ^ has nQt settled down

have yet to see the chi , * Children often come to us with

to nursery rouhnewijn^ „ oreven unmanageable, and it is a

a history of being difticul or eve her&staff that most of

"casef 3ve theteWes before very long into normal,
healthy and well-adjusted members of the community

All our nurseries are now s^“ta receive^itsVeaTs" from
catering — previously E . y d be not very satisfactory,
the School Canteen and this ■ 0^ible, and both children and
A better selection of menus l. H

staff are enjoying tto -neabto fte fu K ^ ^ Diplonia

Two of our nurseries still train tnree gi are neVcr

of the National Nursery Examination I < . d nurses. ia

short of applicants for these posts oCstudot nu.^ Norll,

fact, we receive app’icatio . have a long waiting

^Umam'nXnng'ii-^viccs of two good tutors with Birhcn-

33

head, Bebington and Chester, at the Birkenhead Technical College,
where our students go on two full days per week. We also help
Birkenhead by accepting their nursery class students for their work
uith children under two, as Birkenhead no longer have training
day nurseries.

All the children in the nurseries are medically examined by the

Assistant Medical Officer ol Health about once in three months

and they are immunised against diphtheria, whooping cough,

tetanus and poliomyelitis, if this has not been done before admis¬
sion.

do sum up, the Wallasey day nurseries are doing a very good
job of work, and 1 hope that the increase in fees which is shortly
to come into force, will not deprive too many children of the ameni¬
ties which they provide.”

Details of attendances during the year are as follows: _

Nursery

•Eastway ...
■Central Park
Oakdale ...

1

Number

|

on

Number

Register

of

31/12/60

Places

1

29

30

49

50

47

50

Average

Daily Attendances

0— 2’s

2 — 5’s

4.9

13.6

9.6

19.0

19.7

24.8

Mother and Baby Homes

There is not a sufficient number of mothers seeking admission

to such homes to justify the Council maintaining a Home for this
purpose.

Contributions are made where necessary to the maintenance of

unmarried mothers and illegitimate children admitted to suitable
mother and baby homes.

During I960 contributions were made in respect of seven cases.

e department works in close liaison with the Birkenhead and

irral Moral Welfare Association and the Chester Diocesan Board
°> Moral Welfare.

Nurseries and Child Minders Regulations Act, 1948

N" applications for registration of premises were received. One
°ay Nursery was on the register at the end of the year.

Routine inspections were made and advice given.

34

SECTION 23 — MIDWIFERY SERVICES
Domiciliary Midwifery

Dr. E. 1. Grant. Assistant Medical Officer of Health and
Medical Supervisor of Midwives makes monthly inspections, and

reports as follows: —

“ The domiciliary midwifery service has had an exceptionally
smooth and uneventful year, during which, thanks no doubt to the
mild winter, there has been far less sickness to upset the duty rota.
All the midwives have been able to take their off-duty and holidays
as arranged, and there have been no unpleasant emergences to

cope with, as there were in 1959.

Three midwives attended Refresher Courses in 1960 and all
were enthusiastic about the value of these lectures and clinical
demonstrations, which were given by well-known obstetricians and
midwives in the various centres.

Two others chose to spend their holidays in Rome, at an Inter¬
national Congress of Midwives, and they described some of the
highlights of this interesting visit, illustrated with photographs,
one of our monthly meetings.

The inauguration of these monthly meetings between the
seven midwives, the superintendent health visitor and the medical
supervisor of midwives, has led, 1 think, to greater harmony and
friendly co-operation. They are held at a different midwife s house
each month, and the social atmosphere makes for greater n

in the discussions which ensue. M.n, knotty problem, .re
ironed out over a cup of tea, and home-made delicacies.

The total number of domiciliary deliveries in 1960 popped
slightly because of the greater number of admissions to HighAeld
Maternity Hospital, and 1 think that this has lightened slightly he
heavy load of work that our midwives have had to carry
t ew years. It may, however, eventually mean more nurs
for them because of the earlier discharges from hospital W ha*
only had to call on our relief midwife on a few occasions to help

out with some of the nursings.

, should again like to record my thanks to Mrs. Schofield.
. t Health Visitor, for all the work she has done. •

thi help she has given me in connection with the day -
administration of the domiciliary midwifery service.

35

SO

•J)

s o
<

'J

>

at

<

C/3

.2 o

Cases

Institui

i

I

I

1,240

I

1,240

60

13

4->

o

h

447

I

I

i

-

448

4—) (i,

g 3^ °

u d c >-2

73

i>

M

O

O

JCi

O % « 4J-P
y g d .> U

p d'^lj

Q & 73

201

I

1

I

i

r-H

o

<N

u

0

4-J

o

o

G

Doctor
present at
time of
delivery of
child (either
the booked
Doctor or
another)

243

i

1

1

rM

^ 1
^ I

<N

73

11

JA

8

J3

Doctor not
present at
time of
delivery of
child

m

1

I

1

1

77 I

0

C

u

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*-*

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u c3'-*- °

2s°^2

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n jj'S^ °

53 u

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73

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13.

6

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73

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4-J _

Ji 8 „
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s|g

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73

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£ a 8

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73

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6

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a. Kr
be
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■£ p
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36

In 1960 the seven municipal midwives attended 448 cases
Hirther details are given in the table on page 35.

Medical aid, under Section 14 (1) of the Midwives Act, 1951
was sought in four of these cases.

One midwife notified her intention to practise privately during
1960 and attended one case only.

Maternity Outfits

Maternity outfits are supplied free of charge on request to the
Public Health Department, or to the midwife in attendance for all
domiciliary confinements.

The number of maternity outfits issued during the year was 481.

Maternity Emergency Unit

The Corporation has an arrangement with St. Catherine’s
Hospital, Birkenhead, for the use in Wallasey of the Maternity Unit
Flying Squad for dealing with difficult domiciliary obstetric
emergencies.

It was necessary to call upon the services of the Unit three
times during 1960.

Maternity Homes

There are no private maternity homes registered in the
borough.

SECTION 24 — HEALTH VISITING

1 here was practically a full complement of health visiting staff
throughout the year.

The routine work of the Health Visitors has carried on in 1960
as untiringly as ever.

Much time was spent on the care of old people and problem
families. The practical help given and sympathetic hearing of the
troubles of elderly people were much appreciated and yet seldom
recorded in official reports. Special attention is also given to early
detection of mental ill health in the home. Some criticism has
been made recently, by other branches of Social Workers and in
the Report of the Committee on Children and Young Persons,
i960, that the health visitor does not always see the need to refer to
her “problems” to the appropriate section of the Local Authority.
Hospital, Family Doctor or voluntary organisation. This is not so
of the Health Visitors in Wallasey who on the whole have very
good relationships with other Social workers and refer a family fo
the staff of the section who may be able to use their own special
skills in helping that case.

The care of mothers and young children is still of primary
importance to the Health Visitor and the Maternity and Child
Welfare clinics continue to be well attended.

One Health Visitor attended the Oxford Summer School,
organised by the W.P.FI.O.A. from July 4th to July 16th. lg60.

The Health Committee also authorised two of the staff to attend
the yearly week-end Refresher Course in Manchester, held each
March. Also the expenses for two Health Visitors were paid at the |||

37

Annual W.P.H.O.A. Conference held this year in Brighton. The
Superintendent Health Visitor and her Staff wish to thank the
Committee for making these courses possible.

Since August, 1960 the “Phenistix” urine test has been carried
out on all babies between the age 6-8 weeks. In this way a baby
suffering from “phenylketonuria” is detected and early dietary treat¬
ment commenced so avoiding the development of mental sub¬
normality.

Tests for ascertaining defective hearing in young children are
also being done whenever the Health Visitor considers the child is
in the “risk” group.

The following is a summary of work done by the Health
Visitors during the year : —

Total visits to children under 1 year
Total visits to children between 1 and 5 years
Total visits to Premature Births

Total visits re Stillbirths .

Total visits re Neo -Natal Deaths ...

Total visits re Infant Deaths .

Total visits re Infectious Diseases and contacts ..
Total visits to Dysentery cases

Total visits to Ophthalmia cases .

Total visits to Day Nurseries .

Total visits re Immunisation .

Total visits for Children’s Officer ...

Total visits re Adoptions .

Total visits for Hospital Almoners .

Total visits to Expectant Mothers ...

Total visits to Post-Natal cases .

Total visits re Tuberculosis . .

Total visits to Diabetics, per General Practitioners

Total visits re Care of Old People . .

Miscellaneous visits ... .

Ineffectual visits (no response, etc.)

Attendances at Junior Training Centre for : —

Medical Inspections .

Cleanliness Surveys .

Attendances in School by T.B. Health Visitors re B.C.G.

vaccination .

Home visits re B.C.G. vaccination .

Attendances at Consultant Psychiatrists' Clinic ...
Attendances at Birkenhead Children’s Hospital ...
Attendances by T.B. Health Visitors at Mill Lane Chest
Clinic

f • * ••• • • • • • • a * a a a a a a •

8,632

12,469

192

24

22

11

678

954

1

49

38

6

5

23

1,188

368

1,582

2

502

995

27,741

3,114

30,855

10

1

11

88

37

125

62

47

87

38

SECTION 25— HOME NURSING

For the greater part of the year the Staff was at full strength,
the establishment being one Superintendent and nineteen Nurses.

Messages continue to be taken at the Nursing Centre from
8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. One
Nurse is on duty each evening for emergency calls and late evening
visits to very ill patients.

During the year 130 late visits were paid to very ill patients
requiring Morphia Injections and patients needing emergency
treatment.

The car allowances granted to 3 Nurses using their own cars
on duty has resulted in a great saving of the Nurses’ time and
energy and has contributed very largely to the smooth running of
the service. The Nurses are very grateful to the Health Committee
for these allowances which have proved so helpful in their work,
particularly in the outlying districts of Moreton and Leasowe.

The provision of Nursing Equipment and the Laundry Service
for incontinent patients is much appreciated by patients and rela¬
tives, and is of valuable assistance to the Nurses in their day to day
work.

Towards the end of the year it was evident that a Bathing
Attendant for infirm patients would fulfil a great need. This
appointment would enable the trained Nursing Staff to devote more
time to the ill patients requiring skilled nursing attention.

In 1960 the Minister of Health approved the Queen’s Institute
Courses of District Nurse Training, and Wallasey was approved as
a Training Centre. The practical training of District Nurses is
given from the Centre and students attend Liverpool for lectures
and tutorial sessions. Students successfully passing the examina¬
tion qualify for the National Certificate issued by the Ministry of
Health in addition to the Certificate of the Queen's Institute of
District Nursing. During the year four students completed the
course of training, two were successful in passing the examination,
and two are now awaiting the results of the examination.

The Superintendent and six Nurses on the Staff are Queen s
Nurses plus two awaiting results to qualify for appointment to the
Queen’s Roll.

39

In October an invitation was received from the Queen’s Insti¬
tute of District Nursing to the opening of the Institute’s William
Rathbone Staff CollegeT Liverpool, by Her Royal Highness Princess
Alice. The Superintendent and four Nurses were able to attend.

The following is a summary of work carried out by the District
Nursing Service in 1960 : —

Cases

Visits

Medical . .

1,241

38,811

Surgical . .

235

7,432

Tuberculosis

43

7,032

Infectious

8

71

Maternal Complications

23

208

Others

114

254

Totals

1,664

48,808

Patients included in above who were 65 years or over at

the time of first visit

Children included in above who were under 5 years at

1,082

33,895

the time of first visit

Patients who have had more than 24 visits during

24

218

the year

434

36,629

The above figures include 9,951 visits paid to 280 patients for
the purpose of giving injections only. The comparable figures for
1959 were 6,839 visits to 206 patients.

NURSING HOMES

There were 3 Nursing Homes on the Register at the end of
1960. 21 deaths occurred in the Homes during the year.

8 visits were paid to the Nursing Homes by the Superintendent
Health Visitor.

SECTION 26— VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
Smallpox Vaccination

General Practitioners in the borough notified that they had
carried out 986 vaccinations and 238 re -vaccinations during the
year, compared with 825 vaccinations and 192 re-vaccinations in
1959.

Age at Date of
Vaccination

Under 1

1

2 to 4

5 to 14

15 or
over

Total

I Number vaccinated

789

52

35

43

67

986

I dumber Re-vaccinated

—

2

11

28

197

238

Poliomyelitis Vaccination

Vaccination was again available throughout the year to all
persons over six months and under 26 years of age. Early in the
year, however, the scheme was extended so as to offer vaccination

40

for the first time to those persons in the 26-40 age group. “Booster”
or third injections were offered to all persons seven months after
they had received the second injection.

An intensive publicity campaign was carried out stressing the
importance of vaccination. Notices giving details of the facilities
for vaccination were displayed in the public libraries and clinics
and on the motor buses and ferry boats, etc.

Evening clinics were organised at the Health Clinic, Water
Street, Wallasey, and the Health Clinic, Oakenholt Road, Moreton,
for the convenience of persons in the 26-40 age group. A large
number of persons who received their primary vaccination in 1959
took advantage of these evening clinics to return for their third
injection.

There were adequate supplies of British vaccine available
throughout the year.

A total of 3796 persons received a primary course of vaccina¬
tion and 11,680 persons received “booster” injections during the
year. Full details are given in the table on page 41.

Of the 3796 persons who received a primary vaccination 2,614
were vaccinated by their family doctor and 1,182 attended the local
health authority clinic.

Of the 11,680 persons receiving a “booster” dose 6,348 were
vaccinated by their family doctor and 5,332 attended the local
health authority clinic.

Number of children vaccinated during
the year — by age group (as at 31.12.60).

Age

Primary

Vaccination

Booster

Dose

Under 1

yr.

66

—

1 yr.

T

... 640 ...

256

2 yrs.

+

... 286 ...

709

3 yrs.

+

... 93 ...

494

4 yrs.

+

... 83 ...

438

5 yrs.

+

... 87 ...

402

6 yrs.

+

... 77 ...

382

7 yrs.

+

... 65 ...

382

8 yrs.

+

... 75 ...

367

9 yrs.

+

... 59 ...

384

10 yrs.

+

... 70 ...

438

11 yrs.

+

... 64 ...

427

12 yrs.

+

... 71 ...

521

13 yrs.

+

... 61 ...

549

14 yrs.

+

... 58 ...

549

15 yrs.

+

... 38 ...

448

16 yrs.

+

... 30 ...

535

Totals

... 1923 ...

7281

POLIOMYELITIS VACCINATION — 1960

41

sC

O'

c

c

'a

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U

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cs

>

£

6

a

tjfi

3

•H

>

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C

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<o

a.

<4-1

o

1>

Xi

£

3

C

<3

4-1

o

-

B.C.G. Vaccination (Tuberculosis)

Full details of this service are given on page 47 in the section
of the report “Prevention of Illness — Care and After-Care.”

Diphtheria Immunisation

During the year 1,853 children received the full course of
immunisation against diphtheria, 1,202 being immunised by general
practitioners and 651 at the Council’s clinics. In addition, 1,289
children who had previously received the full course were given a
reinforcing dose, 549 by general practitioners and 740 at the clinics.

The following table gives the number of children who at the
31st December 1960 had completed a course of immunisation at
any time before that date, i.e. at any time since 1st January, 1946.

Age on 31.12.60 Under 1 1—4 5—9 10—14 Under 15

(i.e. born in year) I960 1956-59 1951-55 1946-50 Total

A. Number of children
whose last course

(primary or booster) 353 4.421 4,086 1,568 10,428

was completed in the
period 1956-1960.

B. Number of children
whose last course

(primary or booster) — — 1,799 5,114 6,913

was completed in the
period 1955 or earlier.

C. Estimated mid-year
child population

1,780

6,920

16,300

25,000

Immunity Index

100 A

C

19.83

63.89

34.69

41.71

Further details are given on the table on page 43.

UTliUUi'NlSA 1 lull

43

44

Whooping Cough Immunisation

Triple antigen is used for immunisation and a single course of
injections thus gives immunity to diphtheria, whooping cough and
tetanus.

The following table gives details of the number of persons who
received the course of immunisation against whooping cough during
the year : —

Age at date of final injection

0-4 yrs. 5-14 yrs.

T otal

No. of children who have completed
a primary course (normally 3 injections
of pertussis vaccine singly or in com¬
bination) in the authority’s area during
the year ended 31st December, 1960

1,619 101

1,720

The total number of persons immunised against the disease in
the previous three years was as follows: —

1957 ...

920

1958 ...

1,376

1959 ...

982

SECTION 27 — AMBULANCE SERVICE

The day-to-day administration of the ambulance service is
carried out by the Chief Fire Officer, subject to the overall control
of the Medical Officer of Health.

The ambulance vehicles are housed at the Central Fire Station,
Manor Road, Wallasey. To serve the needs of the Moreton area,
two vehicles are despatched each day to the Super Garage, Moreton.
All vehicles are fitted with radio communication, and this has un¬
doubtedly led to greater efficiency in the service, and a considerable
saving both in time and mileage. Arrangements continue to be
made for long distance cases to be conveyed by train so relieving
the pressure on the service.

In view of the ever-increasing demands on the service, an
additional stretcher case vehicle was added to the fleet of ambu¬
lances during the year. The vehicular strength is now as follows:—

1. Seven ambulances, each capable of conveying 2/4 persons
in emergency;

2. Two omni -coaches for sitting cases, each capable of carry¬
ing 13 persons;

3. One car for long distance journeys.

Twenty -four driver/orderlies are employed on a rota system.
In addition three communication clerks are employed on telephone
duties.

AMBULANCE SERVICE— NUMBER OF CASES CONVEYED — 1960

45

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46

AH vehicle repairs, other than major overhauls, are carried
out in the workshops at the Central Fire Station, and a mechanic
is employed by the Health Committee, specifically for work on the
ambulance fleet. In addition, the mopeds used by the Home
Nursing Service are repaired and serviced in the workshops.

The number of cases conveyed again shows an increase over
the previous year — 34,896 compared with 33,073 in 1959. The
following details of cases carried indicate the ever-increasing
demands made on the service, which at peak periods is stretched to
the limit : —

1947 ... 3,854 1959 ... 33,073

1950 ... 21,385 1960 ... 34,896

The total mileage covered during the year was 158,279 com¬
pared with 157,959 in the previous year. Further details are given
in the table on page 45.

Gas and air (analgesia) outfits are stored and maintained at
the ambulance depot, and are available for use by the domiciliary
midwives as required.

SECTION 28 — PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND

AFTER-CARE

Tuberculosis

1960 1959

1958

1957 1956

1955

1954

No. of Primary

Notifications

78 84

77

66 83

91

95

Pulmonary

68=45 men

19 women

4 children

Non -pulmonary

10= 4 men

6 women

Classification of non -pulmonary cases :

Renal Tract

. 2

Urinary

• • •

... 1

Glands in neck

3

Pericarditis

• • •

... 1

Endometritis

. 2

Cervical Adenitis

... • 1

Table of Primary Notifications &c. :

Notifications
Pul. Non Pul.

1960 68 10

Deaths Death Rate

Pul. Non Pul. Per 1000

10 2 0.116

No. of Notified Cases of Tuberculosis on Clinic Register :

1st January, 1960 . 1,035

31st December, 1960 . . . 1 ,067

Transfers from other areas . 16

Lost sight of cases returned . *

New cases diagnosed during the year .

Total visits by Health Visitors . 1.565

Prevention :

No. of new contacts examined during 1960 .

No. of new cases diagnosed during 1960 .

Contact Rate ... ... ... • • • • • • • • • • • • • * •

No. of new cases detected by contact examination ...
No. of cases detected by School Contact Examination

Home Nursing Service treated .

B.C.G. Vaccinations .

305

78

4.04

41

194

47

The number of notifications has returned to a lower level after
the slight boost it received from the Liverpool Mass Radiography
Campaign in 1959. Out of 78 notified cases there were 35 male
and 8 female cases over 45 years of age. The number of cases in
the over 45 age group is proportionately very large. It is composed
of men who have to work and support families, women who run
their own homes and an older group who are often Grandparents.
These persons are very difficult to detect because they are busy or
too old to accept X-ray particularly M.M.R., which is, to them, a
new fangled idea. It is significant that 7 of this group were found
to have tuberculosis after death. Considering the number of bacilli
which must have been disseminated by these undetected cases it is
obvious that the fight against tuberculosis must go on and be in¬
tensified. Firstly, cases must be detected by contact follow-up,
M.M.R. examination and examination of patients sent by General
Practioners to the Clinic. Secondly, the protection of susceptible
age groups by B.C.G. vaccination, done for adolescents in the
School and for contacts in the Clinic, must be continued and
expanded.

Prevention

The number of contacts examined per new case is 4.04. Con¬
sidering the small size of families in Wallasey this is satisfactory.
In addition there were 280 contacts of 93 children who were
Mantoux positive at school examinations. No cases of active
tuberculosis were found. The School Health Service must be con¬
gratulated on the efficiency of it’s work and the thoroughness of
it’s examinations in this respect.

Care

In addition to helping with the B.C.G. campaign in the
Schools, the Health Visitors have made 1565 visits this year and
continued to be of great assistance in the work of the T.B. Clinic.

The Home Nursing Service have treated 41 patients in their
own homes. Many tributes to their efficiency and kindness have
been received.

Families receiving clothes, etc .

Housing defects reported by Health Visitors .

No. of patients receiving milk . , .

No. of cases re-housed .

Referred to Education Dept .

Home Helps .

Children Mantoux positive at School .

No. of Contacts attending through above .

No. of Mantoux positive children at School who attended

pi • •

••• ••• ••• ••• • • • ••• ••• ••• a • •

Free School Meals .

60

16

13

2

4

2

93

280

78

2

Vaccination of Schoolchildren with B.C.G.

I he table on page 48 shows details of this work for the years
1955 to I960 inclusive. As will be seen, the number of children
vaccinated has increased progressively year by year. Moreover, the
■ncidcnce of Mantoux positive children — which is an indication of

48

the prevalence ot tuberculosis infection in the community — has
continued to fall from 18.8% of the children tested in 1955 to
7.3% of the children tested in 1960.

B.C.G. Vaccination — School Children :

No. of children — 1955

offered B.C.G. vaccination 1,085

accepting B.C.G. vaccination 851

Mantoux tested ... ... 821

found Mantoux positive ... 154

Percentage of children —

Mantoux positive . 18.8%

No. of children —

found Mantoux negative ... 666

vaccinated with B.C.G.

vaccine . 660

Re-Tests after 1 year
No. of children —

Mantoux re-tested . 269

found negative ... ... 7

Percentage of children —

Mantoux negative . 2.6%

No. of children —

re-vacc. with B.C.G. vacc.

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

1,315

1,398

1,545

1,783

1,673

927

1,030

1,121

1,215

1,273

917

1,013

1,084

1,168

1,232

140

148

106

100

90

15.3%

14.6%

9.8%

8.5%

7.3%

775

869

958

1,064

1,142

769

861

946

1,061

1,136

583

668

1,112

697

53

20

26

13

6

4

3.4%

3.9%

1.0%

0.8%

0.9%

—

15

5

4

4

Provision of Nursing Equipment

There has continued to be a heavy demand for articles of
equipment on loan. A small charge is made varying from 6d. per
week for the smaller articles such as back rests and bed -pans, to
3/6d. per week for Dunlopillo mattresses. In cases of hardship no
charge is made.

A stock of equipment is stored at a central depot, with the
exception of a small number of articles which are kept at the Nurs¬
ing Centre, 86a, Penkett Road, Wallasey, for emergency use.

In 1960 a total of 901 articles were issued on loan as follows : —

Air-rings

96

Mackintosh sheets ...

178

Back rests .

128

Self- lifting pole

4

Bed pans .

212

Tripod Sticks

19

Bed Tables .

4

Male Urinals

37

Bed with Lifting Pole

—

Female Urinals

9

Commodes .

135

Wooden Blocks

— •

Crutches .

1

Wooden Bed Blocks ...

— •

Dunlopillo Mattress ...

2

Oxford Hoist

2

Invalid Chairs

58

Oesophagus Box

1

Knee cages

14

Special Bedstead

1

Domiciliary Laundry Service for the Incontinent Chronic Sick

This service commenced at the beginning of September, 1959.
Nine sheets are initially left at each home and the soiled sheets are
replaced with clean on alternate days.

The following are details of the service during 1960 : —

No. of sheets issued during the year . 8.605

No. of cases to whom sheets issued .

No. of cases carried forward to 1961 ...

49

The scheme is working satisfactorily and is much appreciated
by patients and the relatives of those being nursed at home.

Health Education

Health Education in this borough is conducted primarily by
the Superintendent Health Visitor and her staff, although members
of the staff in other sections of the department make a worthwhile
contribution in this field.

The most valuable approach to health education is still
personal communication, that is, good home visiting and small
discussion groups, whether in the home or clinic. The health
visitor is frequently well-known to the family and so is afforded a
unique opportunity of advising mothers on matters relating to
health education, whether it be on the advisability of having an
injection against poliomyelitis, the danger of not having a fireguard,
or the proper dose of cod liver oil for the baby.

The value of good, up-to-date pamphlets and leaflets must
not be overlooked. Copies of the publication “Better Health,” the
official journal of the Central Council for Health Education, are
purchased each month and distributed free from the Public Health
Department, the various clinics, the Education Department and the
offices of the Wallasey Executive Council. Posters are displayed in
all the child welfare and minor ailments clinics and much individual
teaching is done, leaflets and pamphlets being distributed to expec¬
tant mothers.

The Superintendent Health Visitor and her staff have taken
every opportunity of giving talks to women’s organisations on
health education subjects, including “Good Dental Care” and
“Home Accidents and their Prevention.”

It was envisaged in 1960 that a Mothers’ Club should be com¬
menced in the Moreton area. At the time of writing the club is
now firmly established, and meets every other Thursday evening.
Talks and topics discussed by the mothers have included “The
Mental and Physical Growth of Children,” “Physiotherapy,”
“Household Hints,” etc. Attendances have been good.

The Health Committee have been very concerned during the
year about the condition of children’s teeth. It was resolved that
“the Medical Officer of Health do everything possible to bring this
matter to the attention of the public.” A campaign was in¬
augurated, articles appeared in the local press and several thousand
leaflets and posters which were obtained from the General Dental
Council, Fruit and Vegetable Council, and Central Council for
Health Education were distributed from the various clinics. Cor¬
poration departments, in the schools, libraries, etc. The Principal
Dental Officer has lectured at several schools in the borough on the
subject of Dental Hygiene. As mentioned in the foreword and
page 70 of this report, considerable concern was expressed by the
Health Committee regarding the effect of ice lollies on children’s
teeth. Several samples were analysed and in view of the high acid
content of the lollies, the matter was referred to the Health Com¬
mittee of the Association of Municipal Corporations with a view

50

to the introduction of legislation to prevent the sale of harmful
types of ice lolly.

1960 was Mental Health Year. The local authority readily
supported Mental Health Week. Every opportunity was taken of
bringing to public notice the changing attitude towards mental
illness and mental sub -normality. Booklets and pamphlets were
distributed, and the Junior Training Centre, Hale Road, was open
for public inspection. Articles appeared in the local press and
several talks have been given to organisations in the borough by
mental welfare officers to provide an up-to-date understanding of
mental health problems. As mentioned in another section of this
report, the number of further requests for a speaker indicate the
success of this part of the department’s Health Education pro¬
gramme.

Exhibitions on different health aspects were given in the two
health clinics, i.e. Moreton Clinic and Water Street. Immunisation
and poliomyelitis vaccination propaganda and “fire prevention in
the home” were some of the topics which have been displayed. Use
has been made of flannelgraphs and the projector to show film
strips on many health matters.

The medical and health visiting staff have visited schools in
the borough and have lectured on “Smoking and Lung Cancer” and
the film “Facts and Figures” on this subject, which was obtained
from the Central Film Library has also been shown.

During the year, two publications have been widely distributed.
The “Health and Welfare Services Handbook” outlining the activi¬
ties of the Health and Welfare sections of the department, and
illustrated with photographs, has been well received, and several
hundred copies were distributed in the clinics, from the Health
Department, local hospitals, Wallasey Executive Council, etc. The
Wallasey book on “Clean Food” has also been distributed to the
public.

The Chief Public Health Inspector and his staff have given
talks on several occasions on the subjects of “Food Hygiene” and
also “Clean Air.” Much propaganda has been desseminated and
literature distributed in connection with the latter, the Council
having resolved that the borough should be smokeless within seven
years. A mobile exhibition illustrating the use of smokeless fuels
visited the borough.

Use has been made of the poster boards at Liscard Road and
Moreton to display posters on several topics.

1960 was Charter Year to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of
the granting of the Charter of Incorporation to the Borough. An
exhibition attended by several thousand persons was held in the
Civic Hall. The various activities of the Health Department were
illustrated by figures, models, documents, etc.

The domiciliary midwives hold afternoon and evening ante¬
natal clinics twice weekly. These clinics are well attended and the
staff take every opportunity of advising mothers on matters of
Health Education.

51

Several topics have been displayed in the window of the Wel¬
fare Foods Distribution Centre in one of the main shopping areas
of the borough.

Further meetings of the Merseyside Cancer Education Com¬
mittee were held and the proposals for an education campaign on
Merseyside regarding cancer were agreed. A full time officer is to
be appointed and a contribution at the rate of ^d. per head of
population is to be made in support of this aspect of Health Edu¬
cation in the area.

Chiropody Service

In accordance with the recommendations of Circular 11/59
Local Health Authorities were empowered to establish or extend a
chiropody service under Section 28 of the National Health Service
Act, 1946.

On the 22nd March, 1960 the following scheme regarding a
proposed chiropody service in this borough was approved by the
Ministry of Health: —

“ (a) The Local Health Authority will, either itself or through
voluntary bodies, make arrangements to assist (a) male persons who
are over the age of 65 and female persons who are over the age of
60, (b) physically handicapped persons, and (c) pregnant women, to
obtain chiropody treatment and will consider extending the provi¬
sion to other classes should this be deemed desirable.

(b) Treatment will be carried out either at the premises of the
several chiropodists holding the qualification laid down in Section
3 of the National Health Service (Medical Auxiliaries) Regulations,
1954, at premises occupied by the Authority or appropriate volun¬
tary societies, or in the patients’ own homes ; arrangements will be
made for transport where appropriate.

(c) The Authority will, if necessary, itself employ chiropodists
holding the required qualifications.”

Applicants for treatment must, in the first instance, obtain a
certificate from their family doctor. An authorisation card is then
issued from this department to the applicant to be presented to the
approved chiropodist of his/her choice. There is no charge for
treatment to persons in receipt of National Assistance, or whose
sole income is the statutory old age pension. The charge for other
beneficiaries is in accordance with the scale approved by the Coun¬
cil.

Fees payable to the chiropodists are 6/- for surgery treatment
and 8/6d. for domiciliary treatment. It was agreed that in those
cases where the full fee is payable by the patient, that such pay¬
ments should be outside the scheme administered by the local
authority.

A chiropody service sub -committee considered the imple¬
mentation of the scheme at a meeting held on the 1st December,
1959 and recommended to the Health Committee that the eight
qualified local chiropodists should be invited to participate, and
(hat the treatment be provided at their surgeries. It was also

52

recommended that domiciliary treatment be provided in appro¬
priate cases. It was decided not to operate special sessions in the
local authority’s own clinics as it was felt that patients could, under
the recommended scheme, visit a chiropodist of their own choice,
near their own home.

The scheme commenced on the 9th May, 1960 and the follow¬
ing are details of the treatments, etc. given since that date to 31st
December, 1960: —

714

2,694

41

Nil

(a) Number of patients registered

(b) Number of treatments given : —

(i) Old Age Pensioners ...

(ii) Physically Handicapped

(iii) Expectant Mothers ...

Total 2,735

Venereal Disease

The following table shows the number of Wallasey patients
receiving treatment for the first time at various centres during
1960 : —

Mill Lane Hospital,

Syphilis

Wallasey .

St. James Hospital,

—

Birkenhead

Royal Infirmary,

8

Liverpool

Mill Road Clinic,

1

Liverpool .

Seamen’s Dispensary &

—

V.D. Clinic, Liverpool

—

Gonorrhoea

Other

conditions

Total

3

25

28

14

65

87

2

19

22

%

1

1

2

6

65

71

26

175

210

Although the total number of cases treated in 1960 shows an
increase of 25 compared with the previous year, there is not the
marked increase in the incidence of the disease in Wallasey which
is evident in many of the large towns throughout the country.

Plastic notices are fixed in all the conveniences in the borough
and on the ferry boats giving details of the centres where, in the
strictest confidence, treatment can be obtained. The advisability
of obtaining early treatment cannot be over emphasised.

SECTION 29 — DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE

Mrs. Malcolm Falla, Organiser, reports as follows : —

“The above service continues to be of great help in times of
sickness and difficulty. The number of aged persons needing help
increases year by year, and many of the old people are quite unable
to look after themselves. Caring for so many old persons, who

53

require help continuously, depletes the number of helpers available
for emergency and maternity cases. If the service did not exist
many old persons, living alone, would have to go into hostels or
hospital, and I sincerely think that their declining years are made
happier by the knowledge that a helper is there to care for them.
Any deterioration in health is reported and the patient’s doctor
advised accordingly. The service does much to avert any feeling
of loneliness and abandonment. In some cases the families of old
people tend to evade their obligation and responsibilities and expect
the service to take over. This is not the function of the home help
service.

Statistics for 1960

Mat T.B. O.A.P. Others Total
Applications received 77 1 249 77 404

Applications accepted 70 1 236 76 383

Applications cancelled 7 — 13 1 21

No. of cases helped ... 70 3 349 76 498

No. of hours worked .. . 4,086 £ 42J 69,093| 7,550£ 80,772|

No. of helpers on 31.12.60 — — — — 53

SECTIONS 28 and 51 — MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Introduction

Under Part III of the National Health Service Act, 1946, the
Local Authority is responsible for the ascertainment of mental
disorder, for arranging the admission of patients to psychiatric
hospitals and for work in the field of prevention, care, and after¬
care in the community. Part II of the Mental Health Act, 1959,
which came fully in force in 1960, adds to these duties, functions
relating to the provision of training centres, the provision of resi¬
dential accommodation and increases the emphasis in the care of
the mentally disordered within the community. The general prin¬
ciple of the new Act is that there should be a reorientation in the
field of Mental Health away from institutional care and towards
care within the community. What is now called for, therefore, is a
great and continuing expansion of Local Authority Mental Health
Services, and details of this Authority’s proposals which were
approved by the Ministry of Health are given on page 61.

Administration

The Medical Officer of Health is the Administrative Officer
and he, together with the other three medical officers of the Local
Health Authority, is approved under the provisions of Section 28
(2) of the Mental Health Act, to provide the medical recommenda¬
tions required for the compulsory admission of mentally disordered
persons to hospital. In practice the Local Health Authority Doctors
give recommendations in cases of sub -normality and severe sub-
normality but not in cases of mental illness or psychopathy.

Five Mental Welfare Officers are now employed to carry out
the statutory duties of the Local Health Authority. This is an
increase in the establishment of one Officer, Mr. J. Houghton,
being appointed during the year. Mr. Houghton commenced duty
°n the 1st December, 1960. One quarter of the time of four of
these Officers is allocated to the Welfare Committee.

54

During the year one Mental Welfare Officer, Mr. Wall, attended
the Mental Health Refresher Course organised by the National
Association for Mental Health at Leeds University. This valuable
course consists of a month’s residence at Leeds followed by twenty
weekly seminars held at Manchester and a final week in residence
at Leeds. Four of the five Mental Welfare Officers have now
attended this course.

New Progress and Plans

During the year further improvements and alterations were
made to the Junior Training Centre and an additional Assistant
Supervisor was appointed. The number of children on the Register
continues to increase ; at the end of December, 1958, there were
59 children enrolled, at the end of 1959, 70 children, and at the end
of 1960, 81 children.

Plans are going forward for the establishment of an Adult
Training Centre which will also incorporate eventually, a sheltered
workshop. As in the case of the Junior Training Centre the Adult
Centre will provide facilities for suitable cases from Birkenhead
and initially it is estimated that about 60 persons (30 from each
Town) will attend. In the planning of the Centre, there has
been full co-operation between the Health Committee and the
Wallasey Society for Mentally Handicapped Children who are
deeply interested in the project, and who have raised a large sum
of money to this end.

Plans are in a more advanced stage for the provision of a
Hostel to accommodate 36 mentally disordered persons who are no
longer in need of full hospital care. The Hostel will be in two
wings providing accommodation for 24 and 12 persons respectively.
This is because there will be, very broadly, two categories of
patient. One, probably the larger, will be chronic cases without
hope of full recovery, and the other will be patients who for one
reason or another cannot return at once to the community, but who
will be expected to do so after a period of re-habilitation. This
wing will be a “half-way hostel” between hospital and the full
responsibilities of life in the community.

It is also the intention to provide room in the hostel for a
psychiatric social club for people living at home. It has been
found elsewhere that such a club can be a useful support to people
discharged from hospital and can help them acquire increased con¬
fidence in themselves and in their ability to make contacts with
others.

Preliminary plans for this Hostel have been approved by the
Minister of Health, and the site has been earmarked in Sandbrook
Lane, Moreton.

The home visiting services have been improved by the appoint¬
ment as mentioned previously, of an additional Mental Welfare
Officer. The granting of car allowances to three of the Officers has
also improved this service.

55

A valuable development in the service has been the inaugura¬
tion of informal meetings between the Medical Officer of Health,
the Mental Welfare Officers, and Dr. James (Consultant Psychia¬
trist) which commenced in October, 1960, and which takes place
once a fortnight. At these meetings matters of common interest and
individual cases are discussed. Case Conferences are held every
two months at Deva Hospital, and these are attended by the
Medical Officer of Health and Mental Welfare Officers whenever
possible.

General Observations

The Statistics for the year are in two parts, those under the
Lunacy Act, 1890 and from the 1st November, 1960, those under
the Mental Health Act, 1959.

The Justice of the Peace now has no functions or responsibili¬
ties regarding the compulsory treatment of mental disorder — and
this responsibility now rests primarily on the patients’ General
Practitioner, the Consultant Psychiatrist, the patients’ next of kin,
and the Mental Welfare Officer.

The large increase in the number of voluntary patients (293 as
compared with 168 last year) is mainly due to the transfer of certi¬
fied patients to voluntary status, at the Deva Hospital, Chester.
This has been in accordance with the general policy of removing
restrictions which are not absolutely necessary, and thus promoting
an atmosphere of freedom, where therapy and treatment can now
be more effective. Many of the Wards at the hospitals have been
unlocked, and the “open door” principle is a further noteworthy
advance in changing the emphasis from custody to treatment and
recovery. Two new psychiatric hospitals were opened during the
year, namely Kingswood Hospital, Helsby, and Moston Hospital,
Chester.

Whilst the psychiatrists lead the change in attitudes to mental
illness, the real change must be based on an informed public
opinion, and several talks have been given to local organisations by
the Mental Welfare Officers, in an effort to provide a better under¬
standing of mental health problems. These have coincided with
“World Mental Health Year” and the fact that further
requests for a speaker have always followed a talk perhaps
show the public interest in mental health and the success of this
part of the Department’s Health Education programme.

Seventeen Doctors were approved by the Wallasey Local
Health Authority during the year as having special experience in
the treatment and diagnosis of mental disorder. Seven are local
General Practitioners, six are Consultant Psychiatrists, and four are
members of the Department’s medical staff.

Prevention of Mental Illness

The prevention of mental illness is largely carried out by health
I education, and the policies of other social agencies in their under¬
standing of the effect on mental maturity of environmental experi¬
ences. Where a punitive attitude is expressed by a social agency
by blaming the problem family for its own troubles, this lack of
help usually accelerates the disintegration of an already w'eak

56

family unity and the children who are the most vulnerable persons
in the family may suffer from mental illness in later life.

Problem families thus tend to reproduce themselves in the next
generation and cost the community an expense out of all proportion
to their numbers.

In Wallasey I am glad to say that most of the voluntary and
statutory agencies which affect family life, follow an enlightened
policy, and the influence which the Public Health Services have in
the Town in the prevention of mental illness, is perhaps shown by
this increased understanding. No opportunity is lost in contacts
with other social workers to propagate a constructive approach to
mental health problems, in the belief that mental health is “Every -
bodys’ Business.”

After Care

The domiciliary visits by the Mental Welfare Officers during
1960 were : —

Acute Psychiatric Cases . 1,538

Prevention — Care — After-Care Visits 1,266

Total = 2,804

This is an increase of 816 visits over last year, 616 of these
visits being after-care visits. This shows not only an increased
readiness on the part of patients and their relatives to receive help
but an increase in the community care work by the Mental Welfare
Officers. The provision of car allowances has enabled them to
spend more time in the patients’ homes rather than in travelling by
Public Transport.

The increase may also show an improvement in the quality of
the casework being done, and whilst this is difficult to measure, the
trust and confidence shown by the patients in their willingness to
receive help may be a guide to the quality of the casework.

Mental Treatment Act, 1930

Section 1 (Voluntary Patients)

Deva Hospital ... .

Birkenhead Hospital .

Kingswood Hospital
Winwick Hospital ...

Rainhill Hospital .

Saxondale Hospital (Stoke/Trent)
Haydock Lodge

Whiston Hospital ... .

Section 5 Mental Treatment Act

( Temporary Patients)

Deva Hospital .

Male

104

17

4

1

1

Female

189

29

1

1

4

3

127

227

Total

293

46

4

2

1

1

4

3

354

57

Lunacy Act 1890

Section 20 (3 day Order)

Male Female

Total

Deva Hospital

18

32

50

Birkenhead Hospital .

34

27

61

Sefton Hospital

—

5

5

52

64

116

Section 21 (14 day Order)

Deva Hospital

- —

1

1

Section 16 (Certified)

Deva Hospital

14

17

31

Birkenhead Hospital .

1

2

Amt

3

Winwick Hospital ...

—

1

1

15

20

35

Informal Patients

Deva Hospital .

7

6

13

Birkenhead Hospital

3

11

14

Moston Hospital .

—

1

1

Westminster House (S.D. Ward) ...

18

—

18

28

Mental Health Act, 1959

Section 29 (Emergency Admission for Observation)

18

46

Deva Hospital .

3

4

7

Birkenhead Hospital

—

3

3

3

7

10

Section 25 (Admission for Observation)

Deva Hospital ... .

1

1

2

Birkenhead Hospital

2

4

6

3

5

8

| Section 26 (Admission for Treatment)

Deva Hospital .

—

2

2

SUB-NORMAL AND SEVERELY SUB-NORMAL PERSONS

Total number of Sub-normal and Severely Sub-normal Per-
°ns on the Local Health Authority’s Register (excluding children

58

being dealt with by the Education Authority) on 31st December
1960 : —

In Institutions .., . 130

Under supervision in the Community . 137

Total 267

(a) In the Community

During the year there would seem to have been a great im¬
provement in the general attitude to mental disorders of all kinds,
and an increasing desire to understand. This naturally leads to a
multiplicity of questions which frequently indicate a genuine quest
for knowledge rather than a superficial curiosity. The regular
routine visits which are paid to the homes of all sub -normal and
severely sub -normal patients on the Authority’s Register give
opportunities for stimulating this interest and as far as possible
answering or suggesting possible answers to the questions raised.
Frequently too the growing interest can be further stimulated by
posing other questions and tentative theories thereby gradually
enticing the parent, relative, neighbour or friend to seek further
knowledge from suggested books, pamphlets, periodicals, etc., on the
subject. Naturally such visits tend to take up more time than the
more formal check visit, but undoubtedly they are of much greater
value. The changing attitude is also reflected in the desire of parents
of very young children to receive visits and advice at a much earlier
stage, rather than the older attitude of concealment. This is again
to be noticed in parents’ enthusiastic enquiries regarding their
child’s early admission to a Training Centre. This was particularly
evidenced by the fact that when attendance at Junior Training
Centres became compulsory on 1st November last, there were only
four children suitable for such training who were not already in
attendance. These four commenced attending after pressure was
brought to bear. It is of course infinitely preferable that a parent
should voluntarily seek admission for his child particularly as these
children are extremely sensitive to home attitudes, and any objec¬
tions on the part of the parents are invariably reflected in the child
being unco -operative and antagonistic at the Centre, which inevit¬
ably prevents him from deriving full benefit from the training and
facilities available to him.

The following statistics show that a total of 699 visits were
made by Mental Welfare Officers to the homes of sub-normal and
severely sub -normal persons in addition to those made to the
mentally ill. The number attending the Junior Training Centre has
increased from 32 to 38 whilst 7 children are now attending Spastic
Units for treatment at Wallasey and Birkenhead, an increase of 2 on
last years’ figures. A similar increase is shown in the number of
these patients who have been allowed to attend the classes for
Physically Handicapped at Penkett Road and Moreton, which has
risen from 3 to 9.

As in previous years every effort has been made to relieve the
pressure and strain so inseparable from the presence of mental
handicap within the home by arranging periods of short-term care,
but as it is usually quite impossible to give any definite assurance

that help will, in fact be forthcoming, particularly at any specific
date, it is impossible for the family to make any holiday bookings.
Nevertheless a total of 15 patients have been admitted for an
average period of 3 weeks as against last year’s 12 admissions. It
has again been possible to arrange the necessary emergency admis¬
sions without the necessity of applying to the Committee for
financial assistance towards the cost of maintenance in a private
Home, but this is largely due to the goodwill and excellent
co-operation between General Practitioners and the Medical
Superintendent of a local hospital.

A further 13 patients have been discharged from Order but
only two have actually left hospital, the others remaining on an
informal basis. On the other hand 9 patients have been admitted
informally and those who have been on the Waiting List a con¬
siderable time are now gradually being admitted.

(b) In Institutions

Liaison is still maintained between parents and hospitals and
reports on home circumstances, etc., are sent to the hospitals as
requested.

Particulars of Sub-normal and Severely Sub-normal Persons noti¬
fied during the year :

Males .

11

Females

9

Total

20

Cases admitted to short-term care during the year

: (2-8 weeks)

Males . 5

Females . 10

Total ... ... ... 15 persons for an average of 3 weeks

Cases admitted to long-term care during the year :

Males .

4

Females .

5

Total

9

Cases awaiting Institutional Care :

In the Community . .

M

F Total

8

3 11

In hospital or home

5

2 7

13

5 18

Cases discharged from Order :

Males .

9

Females .

4

Total

13

60

Cases discharged from hospital :

Females . 2

Total number of visits

Visits ...
Cases . . .

to Sub-normal and Severely Sub-normal :

699

562

Total number of Sub-normal and Severely Sub-normal attending
Junior Training Centre (Hale Road):

Males . 20

Females . 18

Total 38

Sub-Normal and Severely Sub-normal awaiting Training at Senior
Training Centre :

c , , M F Total

Sub-normal . 12 12 24

Severely Sub -normal . . 8 5 13

20 17 37

Total number of sub-normal persons attending classes for physi¬

cally handicapped :

M F Total

Moreton . 3 14

Penkett Road . 2 3 5

5 4 9

Junior Training Centre

The Centre now has accommodation for approximately 90
children and under arrangements with the County Borough of Bir¬
kenhead, severely sub-normal children from that authority attend
the centre.

In order that as much individual attention as possible can be
given to each child, the classes are sub-divided into groups of
approximately 12 children.

The numbers of children attending have increased and at the
end of December, 1960, 38 Wallasey children and 46 children from
Birkenhead were on the register, compared with 31 and 39 respec¬
tively in the previous year. It has not been necessary to resort to
the use of powers under the Mental Health Act regarding com¬
pulsory attendance.

The staff was increased by an additional assistant supervisor.
One of the staff attended a refresher course in Manchester.

The ages of the children vary from 5 years to 16 years. In
addition, there are several over 16 years, who have been grouped
into a special class pending the provision of an Adult Training
Centre.

61

The Centre is open five days per week — Monday to Friday —
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed for one month in the summer
and approximately four weeks during the remainder of the year.

Special buses convey the children to and from the Centre.

The children are instructed in various handicrafts and hand
work, including basket and rug making, mop making, embroidery,
simple sewing, painting, papier mache work, cardboard modelling
and woodwork. Musical activities include maypole and country
dancing. Physical training is also carried out.

The Annual Sports Day was again held at the Scouts Field,
Overchurch, and the Annual Outing to Southport was again much
enjoyed by the children.

The centre was open during “Charter Week” for parents and
friends to visit and also for public inspection during Mental Health
Week. Over 100 persons visited the centre and saw the children
carrying out their usual activities.

PROPOSALS FOR THE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT
OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

(Approved by the Ministry of Health)

1 . Introduction

This outline is divided into two parts A and B, of which Part
A (italics) is a statement of the services which are already being
provided. This statement is not part of the approved proposals but
is supplied because it may be helpful to those who read the pro¬
posals. Part B consists of the local health authority’s approved
proposals and contains a description of their plans for the period
up to April, 1963, and a further general statement of their sub¬
sequent intentions.

2. General

A. The proposals in sub-paragraph B are additional to the
arrangements already approved by the Minister relating to the pre¬
vention of mental illness, the care of persons suffering from mental
illness or mental defectiveness, and the after-care of such persons
under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act; existing
arrangements for carrying out duties under the Lunacy and Mental
Treatment Acts, 1890-1930, and the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913-
1938, continue in operation until the relevant sections of these Acts
are repealed on dates appointed by the Minister by order under
Section 153 of the Mental Health Act, 1959; the proposals relating
to duties under the repealed sections will then cease to have effect.

The authority will make appropriate arrangements for the
provision of services to meet the needs of the mentally disordered
1 i v ing in the community and will make the services known to and
available to those who are in need of them. In particular, they will
provide, or cause to be provided junior training centre(s), adult
'raining centre(s), home training, residential accommodation, social
^lubs, and a home visiting service.

62

3. Organisation and Staff of the Services

A. The following is, in outline, a description of the existing
organisation and staffing arrangements : —

Organisation :

Matters of policy are submitted to the Mental Health Sub-Com¬
mittee. All recommendations of that Committee are referred to
the Health Committee, the resolutions of which are subject to
approval by Council. The Medical Officer of Health is responsible
for the day-to-day administration of the service.

Staffing :

Four Medical officers of the authority are approved to give medical
certificates in accordance with the provision of sections 3 and 5 of
the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913. Three duly authorised officers
and one mental health worker are employed. All four act as
social workers in the fields of prevention and after-care. One-third
of the time of the duly authorised officers is allocated to welfare
committee duties under the National Assistance Act, 1948.

Clerical duties are undertaken by the staff of the health and welfare
sections of the department of the Medical Officer of Health.

One supervisor and four assistant supervisors are employed at the
Junior Training Centre for Mental Defectives in addition to
domestic staff.

Health Visitors encourage the promotion of good mental health
in the community.

Staff Training. Advantage has been taken of the facilities afforded
by the National Association for Mental Health for staff training.
Three of the Mental Health staff have attended the course consist¬
ing of a months residence in Leeds, 20 weekly sessions in Man¬
chester, and a final week in residence in Leeds.

Staff from the Junior Training Centre have attended suitable
courses organised by the Association. A health visitor has recently
attended a Mental Health Course conducted by the Royal College
of Nursing.

Links with Hospitals. There are no joint appointments. Staff of
the local authority work in close liaison with the consultant
psychiatrists, and hospital social workers, and attend the hospital
out-patients department as and when required. This has been
facilitated by the recent granting of an additional car allowance to
the duly authorised officers.

A health visitor attends one of the hospital child psychiatric clinics.

Links with general practitioners. The local authority staff also
work in close liaison with the general practitioners in the borough
and enjoy amicable relations.

B. In addition to the existing arrangements, the authority expect
to increase their staff employed in the mental health service and in
particular intend to appoint a sufficient number of officers to act as
mental welfare officers under the Mental Health Act. 1959, from
such dates as the relevant provisions of the Act come into opera¬
tion. Staff of all grades will continue to be encouraged to attend
courses of training and arrangements will be made to release them.

63

The following additional arrangements are contemplated for
strengthening : —

(a) Links with hospitals. It is anticipated that Case Conferences
with hospital officers, already started, will become a regular feature
and the employment of additional mental welfare officers will en¬
able greater liaison with hospital authority staffs. A joint committee
of the North Wirral Hospital Management Committee, the Wallasey
Local Medical Committee, the Wallasey Executive Council and the
Local Health Authority has been set up to discuss developments in
the Mental Health Service as the provisions of the Mental Health
Act, 1959, come into operation.

(b) Links with General Practitioners. The Wallasey Executive
Council and Local Medical Committee are represented on the Joint
Committee referred to above. In addition the general practitioners
will be kept directly informed of developments through the medium
of a monthly newsletter from the department of the Medical Officer
of Health. General Practitioners will be invited to call conferences.

(c) Services through voluntary bodies and other local authorities.
The provision of services through voluntary bodies or the agency of
other local authorities will be implemented as necessary.

4. Junior Training Centres)

A. One centre having 70 places is at present available for the
under 16 age group. The centre is administered directly by the
local authority. No arrangements have been made with voluntary
bodies.

Ancillary services are provided as follows : —

(a) Transport. Children are conveyed to and from the Centre

by special bus.

(b) Meals. A mid-day meal is provided. pint of milk is

provided daily for each child.

(c) Medical Inspection. Regular monthly visits of inspection

are made by the Deputy Medical Officer of Health of the
authority.

id) Dental treatment. The Principal School Dental Officer
makes visits to the centre and arranges for the carrying
out of necessary treatment.

(e) Minor ailments are dealt with at the School Clinic.

Jly arrangements with the County Borough of Birkenhead
children from that area attend the centre.

In addition to the existing arrangements, the Junior Training
Centre, is expected to develop on the following lines : —

Further staff will be employed and equipment supplied as
necessary at the existing centre. The local authority plans are
expected to provide within the next year, after alterations to the

are comP^ele* places for all suitable cases, but further places
w,n be provided as necessary.

64

Facilities will continue to be available for children from the
County Borough of Birkenhead to attend.

5. Adult Training Centres

A. No centre is at present available specifically for the 16 years
and over, age group. Provision is, however, made for the attend¬
ance of such persons at the Junior Training Centre and a special
class is conducted for these persons. No arrangements have been
made with voluntary bodies.

B. The proposed Adult Training Centre referred to in paragraph
2B above, which in the first instance is intended to accommodate
the appropriate persons both from this authority and Birkenhead
County Borough, is expected to develop on the following lines : —

The authority will endeavour to provide training and suitable
occupation for the individual in an environment in which his/her
resources are used to the best advantage. Initially vocational
classes will be held and suitable training will be given. It is
intended, should the needs so justify that later a “workshop” section
be provided. The authority’s plans are expected to provide, within
the next three years, places for all suitable cases, but further places
will be provided if necessary.

The authority will consult with the appropriate voluntary
organisations regarding the facilities and amenities to be provided.

6. Residential Accommodation

A. No residential accommodation is at present provided specifi¬
cally for the mentally disordered, although a small number of
persons in this category are accommodated from time to time in
existing hostels provided in accordance with Section 21 of the
National Assistance Act, 1948.

B. It is intended to provide a 36 -place residential hostel in the
year 1960-61 for the under -mentioned categories of the mentally
disordered, who, in the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health,
require such accommodation, and short term care.

(a) primarily persons suffering from mental illness who no
longer require medical or nursing attention in hospital,
and have no suitable home.

(b) persons having ‘sub -normality’ or ‘severe sub -normality
of mind (as defined in Section 4 of the Mental Health
Act, 1959) and have no suitable home.

The authority will keep the demand for residential accom¬
modation for the aforesaid categories of the mentally disordered
under constant review and will, if necessary, provide additional
accommodation.

Accommodation for persons suffering from “psychopathic
disorder” of mind (as defined in Section 4 of the Mental Health
Act, 1959) will be provided initially through the agency of voluntary
bodies or other local authorities but provision will be made directly
if necessary.

65

It will be the intention of the authority to take every practicable
step to find suitable sheltered or ordinary employment for residents,
and arrangements will be made should it be considered desirable,
for their attendance at an Adult Training Centre.

7. Home Training

A. No home teachers or ‘‘group” teachers are employed under
the existing arrangements.

B. Consideration will be given by this authority, if necessary, to
the appointment of a home teacher.

8. Day Centres, Social Clubs and other Activities

A. By the authority : —

No day centres, social centres, or other activities are conducted.
By voluntary bodies: —

An evening social club for the ‘‘severely sub-normal’ over 16
years of age only is held once weekly by the Wallasey Society
for Mentally Handicapped Children. Accommodation is pro¬
vided at the Junior Training Centre at a nominal rental.

B. It is the intention of the authority as the relevant provisions of
the Mental Health Act, 1959, come into operation and as addi¬
tional mental welfare officers are employed, to set up a Social
Centre for the Mentally Disordered.

9. Home Visiting Service

A. The following are the general arrangements for home visiting
to provide care and after-care : —

These duties are carried out by the duly authorised officers and
mental health worker.

The services already administered by the authority for care and
after-care under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act,
1946, in addition to the domiciliary services administered under
other sections of the Act, are available to the mentally disordered.

B. The home visiting service will be suitably augmented when the
additional staff referred to in paragraph 3B of these proposals are

1 employed. The authority will make available such domiciliary
care as is necessary, having regard to the needs of each particular
case.

The authority will make arrangements as may be necessary to
allow mental welfare staff to take suitable training and will en¬
courage them to do so.

10. Guardianship

B. It is the authority’s intention to exercise their functions under
the Mental Health Act, 1959, in respect of persons placed under
| guardianship, whether under that of the authority or of other
I Persons, when these replace the functions under existing legislation.

11. Future Developments

The authority will keep their mental health services under
constant review and will augment them from time to time in any
way necessary.

66

LIAISON ARRANGEMENTS WITH HOSPITALS, GENERAL

PRACTITIONERS, ETC.

In accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 1/61 the
following is a report on the liaison arrangements with hospitals and
general practitioners designed to avoid unnecessary hospital
admissions and out-patient attendance, and to facilitate early dis¬
charge.

Genera]

The Medical Officer of Health is a member of the Local Medical
Committee, a member of the Medical Advisory Committee of the
North Wirral Hospital Management Committee and he is also in¬
vited to attend meetings of the Hospital Management Committee.

Admissions to Hospital

A small selection committee makes a careful choice of cases
for admission to Highfield Maternity Hospital. The Medical Officer
of Health and a general practitioner serve on this committee which
meets once a month to consider applications for admission on
social grounds. In those conditions where the home conditions
are favourable, it is recommended that the mother should not be
admitted to hospital for her confinement and that this should take
place at home. There is an adequate staff of domiciliary midwives.

Early Discharges from Hospital

Good liaison exists between the local authority and hospital
staffs. All early cases of discharge from maternity hospitals are
notified both by telephone and writing, to the Health Department.
The services of a midwife or a health visitor are made available as
required. In other hospitals, the Almoners notify the Superinten¬
dent of the Home Nursing Service giving details of patients who
are to be discharged home and who will require nursing care, and
thus many cases which would otherwise have to remain in hospital
are nursed at home.

There has been a considerable strengthening of the Home
Nursing Service since the Council took over the administration of
the service in 1950. There has also been a considerable expansion
of the Home Help Service in the past ten years. Consequently it
is possible for many, particularly the elderly, to be cared for in
their own homes who would otherwise have to be admitted to
hospital.

The inception of the clean linen service has facilitated the
nursing of the incontinent at home. It is significant to note that
almost 1,000 sheets per month are now issued from the department.

Plans are well advanced for a hostel for the more infirm which
it is hoped to open in the autumn of 1961 for 50 patients. The
opening of this hostel will further assist in accommodating some of
the elderly patients who no longer require medical or nursing care
in hospital.

67

The mental welfare officers enjoy good relations with the
general practitioners and assist in any way possible in supporting
patients who receive treatment at home. There are no day hospitals
available in the Borough. The mental welfare officers attend case
conferences held every two months at the Deva Hospital, and advise
on home conditions of those patients who are under review for
discharge.

There are no hostels under the Mental Health Act, 1959 yet
available in the borough.

Nursing of Sick Children at Home and the Aftercare of Children
discharged from Hospital

Careful consideration was given by the Health Committee to
the provisions of circular letter L.H.A.L. 2/59 in connection with
the above. It was not considered necessary, having regard to the
small numbers of children involved, to operate a specialised home
nursing service for children. Several of the Home Nurses hold certi¬
ficates as Registered Sick Children’s Nurses, and it was considered
that the existing facilities are adequate.

. *

PART IV.

General Health Services, etc.

70

FOOD AND DRUGS

A total of 386 samples of foods were taken from retail, whole¬
sale and manufacturing premises.

Milk samples taken from retail supplies were all genuine,
with an average analysis of 3.57% of fat and 8.61% of non-fatty
solids for ordinary milk, and 4.96% of fat and 9.18% of non fatty
solids for Channel Island milk.

One supply of milk to a dairy was found to be well below the
standard. Samples taken at the farms showed the deficiency to be
due to abnormal pasture conditions.

Samples of sausage all had a reasonable meat content, but
there is a tendency for some manufacturers to produce sausages
in which though the total meat content is satisfactory, the amount
of fat exceeds the amount of lean meat.

Some meat products showed a lower meat content than might
be reasonably expected, but in the absence of any firm standard,
or a clearly false description, no positive action can be taken.

Proceedings were instituted in respect of 44 Foiled Milk Choco¬
late Novelties ” which contained neither cocoa fat nor milk fat.
A penalty of £5 was imposed. There is an increasing tendency for
some manufacturers to use hardened vegetable oils in place of
cocoa fat and milk solids containing little or no milk fat to produce
an article which though not described as chocolate has the appear¬
ance of chocolate.

Ice lollies have up to 1% of citric acid. Of six samples of
iced lollies sent for analysis, four had a p.H value as low as 3.4.
During the consumption of an ice lolly the teeth and gums are
in contact with this acid mixture for perhaps fifteen minutes, and
though most children today receive a diet adequate in minerals
and vitamins for healthy teeth and gums, the prevention of decay
in the teeth must depend largely on their being cleaned and on
the control of the consumption of sticky, sugary, acidic foods.

The Health Committee are concerned about the effect ice-
lollies have on children’s teeth and have referred the whole matter
of the composition of ice lollies to the Association of Municipal
Corporations.

0

Ice cream made with fat other than milk fat must be clearly
labelled on any wrapper or container and must not bear any
symbol or wording which would lead the purchaser to think it
was made with milk fat.

FERTILISERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT

Samples of fertilisers and animal feeding stuffs are taken to
ensure that they comply with statutory requirements and guaran¬
teed analysis. 18 such samples were taken from small retail
quantities or drawn from bulk quantities of many tons on manu¬
facturers premises. All were satisfactory.

71

PHARMACY AND POISONS ACT

During the year the following applications were made: —

For registration . 6

For re-reeistration . 138

CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF MILK SUPPLIES

This year, the last remaining areas to be included in the
Tuberculosis Eradication Scheme were confirmed by the Minister
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, thereby completing this plan
of disease eradication which has been applied on an area basis
and has involved the whole of England, Scotland and Wales.

The scheme was originally launched by the Minister in
October, 1950, and some progress had at that time already been
made. This had been achieved both voluntarily and by Statutory
Enactment, the latter requiring compulsory notification by the
owners of any animal suspected of being affected with tuberculosis.
Much remained to be done, however, and 15 to 25 years was the
period envisaged for this formidable task.

The fact that its completion has been achieved within 10 years
is a tribute to all whose skills and labours have been directed to
this end. Whilst the large scale commercial pasteurisation and
sterilisation of milk continues to play an important role in
ensuring the ultimate safety of supplies, neither method of heat
treatment has been regarded as a means in itself of providing a
complete answer to the problems which have for so long prevailed
concerning the safety of milk supplies.

Each method has great merits and has proved a valuable
expedient in rendering doubtful supplies safe, but the real problem
and concern over the years has been one which has centred on the
elimination of tuberculous infection from the milk at its source.

This criteria has now been reached and has been achieved by
the Ministry of Agriculture who have vigorously pursued a disease
eradication plan based primarily on the tuberculin testing of all
bovine animals and the removal and slaughter of all reactors.
When work has been completed in the last remaining areas, all
milk produced in these Islands will be derived from cows which
have been certified free from tuberculosis. Thus this crippling
bovine disease which has for so long also constituted so great a
menace to man, has been virtually wiped out, which is an achieve¬
ment of great and outstanding significance in the fields of human
and animal health.

Coupled with disease eradication has been constructional and
hygienic improvements to shippons and farm buildings including
dairies, which has done much in achieving the highest standards
ln the production of clean milk.

The pasteurisation and sterilisation of milk continues to en-
surc terminal safeguards to our supplies from which samples are
regularly obtained by the Department for laboratory testing. The
allowing is a summary of the sampling carried out during the

72

Pasteurised Milk

No. of samples obtained 106,

of which 103 satisfied both the Methylene

Blue and Phosphatase
Tests.

1 failed Methylene Blue Test.

2 test void.

106

Tuberculin Tested Milk — Pasteurised

No. of samples obtained 36,

of which 33 satisfied both the Methylene

Blue and Phosphatase

Tests.

1 failed the Methylene Blue

Test.

2 test void.

36

Tuberculin Tested Milk — Pasteurised (cartoned supplies)

No. of samples obtained from
milk vending machines 10,

of which 8 satisfied both the Methylene

Blue and Phosphatase

Tests.

2 test void.

10

The Methylene Blue test is a statutory test which is applied
to milk to determine its keeping quality. The test is declared void
if the overnight atmospheric temperature in the vicinity of the
sample exceeds 65° F.

The Phosphatase test is a statutory test which is applied to
pasteurised milk to determine the efficiency of the processing
methods.

Sterilised Milk

7 samples of sterilised milk were submitted to the Turbidity
Test which is a statutory test indicating the wholesomeness, or
otherwise, of sterilised supplies. The laboratory reports received
indicated that the samples were satisfactory.

The popularity of this grade of milk is being generally main¬
tained; some favour its use, others dislike its alteration in taste to
that of raw or pasteurised supplies; many, including children, pre¬
fer it, especially with the breakfast cereal, whilst for puddings and
other milk dishes it is ideally suited owing to its rich and creamy
consistency resulting from homogenisation. One of the advantages
of sterilised milk is its potential keeping qualities. Unopened, it will
remain sweet and wholesome in the warmest weather without
resort to storage under refrigeration.

73

Tuberculin Tested Milk — Pasteurised

Tuberculin Tested Milk — Pasteurised in pint bottles and
i pint wax cartons is available throughout the Borough. \ pint
cartons are obtainable from Milk Vending Machines which are
sited in the Liscard, Wallasey, New Brighton and Moreton areas.
Samples of milk taken from these machines have generally proved
satisfactory to laboratory testing. The fact that ‘ test void ’ reports
were received in 2 instances casts no reflection on the keeping
properties or quality of this milk. No consumer complaints were
received during the year, indicating satisfactory arrangements with
regard to milk turnover and replenishments by those responsible.

Raw Milk

Farm bottled Channel Island milk produced from Jersey and
Guernsey herds on farms in the Wirral Peninsula and in Cheshire
comprise the only supplies of raw or unprocessed milk available
within the Borough. “ Channel Island,” “ Jersey,” “ Guernsey ”
and “ South Devon ” are the authorised designations which may
be applied to such milk, which must have not less than 4% by
weight of milk fat. Supplies are available through most distributors.

The samples of milk taken by the Department were obtained

from the following sources: —

Dairies . 73

Schools . 49

Shop Premises . 8

Delivery Vehicles . 9

Milk Vending Machines . 10

Total number of samples submitted for

Laboratory testing . 149

Seven complaints which alleged the use of unclean milk bottles
were received. One complaint was received alleging the sharing
of drinking straws by school children, and a complaint was
received involving the alleged contamination of milk bottles left
uncollected in a school playground. The complaints were investi¬
gated, and, where justified, appropriate action was taken.

The Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, 1960
The Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations, 1960

The pasteurisation of milk under licence is carried out at 3
dairies in the Borough. The plants comprise a modern high
temperature short time appliance and 2 “ Holder ” type plants.
The sampling of milk from each source of supply for testing has
indicated that the apparatus and processing methods are being
efficiently maintained.

The mechanical application of steam, hot water, detergents
and sterilants is the method used in maintaining the cleanliness
*nd sterility of all milk apparatus and equipment, including churns
and bottles.

74

There are 126 registered milk distributors licensed to retail
bottled supplies of designated milk. The number of licences

granted during this year was as follows: —

To use the special designation “ Pasteurised ” . 118

To use the special designation “ Sterilised ” . 96

To use the special designation “ Tuberculin Tested ”... 74

Pasteuriser’s Licences . 3

178 visits were made to dairies and other premises engaged in
the handling and storage of milk.

Milk Vessels

The mis-use of milk bottles continues to give rise to concern,
although the present official views of the dairy industry as a whole
on this particular matter are not known.

It may be claimed that nationally some noticeable improve¬
ment has been achieved, although from local observations there
would appear to be no grounds for believing that any greater
respect is being shown towards the milk bottle, or that the level
of abuse to which it is from time to time subjected is in any way
diminishing. 44 Rinse and return promptly after use ” is a simple
maxim which, if faithfully observed by everyone concerned, would
mean not only an end to the milk bottle dilemma but also to a
lessening of the numerous accidents resulting from broken glass
and bottles, particularly on sands and beaches where unsuspecting
children and grown ups alike all too frequently during the holiday
season fall victims to the sinister hidden danger of broken glass.

A complaint was received and dealt with concerning the
dumping of used milk bottles on enclosed land.

Milk in Schools Scheme

During the year 2,620,946 one-third pint bottles of milk
(109,206 gallons) were supplied under the Milk in Schools Scheme,
a decrease of 2,106 one-third pint bottles of milk (87 gallons) com¬
pared with the quantity supplied during the previous year.

Six suppliers are responsible for deliveries to the schools
under contract. This provides for the supply of pasteurised milk
in one-third pint bottles together with drinking straws.

Samples are frequently obtained from the schools for labora¬
tory testing, thereby providing a check on the safety of the supplies
and, at the same time, indicating the efficiency, or otherwise, of the
processing methods.

Supplies generally were satisfactorily maintained. Isolated
instances were reported involving the alleged presence of foil caps,
or other extraneous matter, in milk supplied under the terms of
the Scheme. Each case was investigated and in one instance a
communication was forwarded to the Company making deliveries.

Fresh Orange Juice

The demand for this beneficial fresh fruit drink continues. M
is available not only from the milk roundsmen, but from many
other distributing and selling points. Supplies are available horn

75

automatic vending machines and, in its ice cold or frozen state, it
has a particular appeal to children. Where orange juice is supplied
in one pint or one-third pint bottles, the returned used bottles are
subjected to the same cleansing processes at the dairies as are
applied to milk bottles.

New automatic vending machines sited in one part of the
town, and dispensing hot beverages during the winter in the form
of hot soups and chocolate, suffered much damage from time to
time at the hands of vandals.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Owing to reorganisation within the service, the laboratory
facilities available to this Authority at Birkenhead were, during the
year, terminated. Under a new arrangement, facilities are now
provided at the City Laboratories, Liverpool, where all samples
and specimens are now forwarded by this Authority.

Charter Celebration Exhibition

A small exhibit was included in the historic Exhibition held
in the Town Hall. This portrayed the changes and developments
which have taken place in the type of vessels and receptacles used
in the retail sale and delivery of milk during the latter half of the
century.

June Dairy Festival

During the holiday season the National Milk Publicity
Council, by arrangement with the Corporation, utilised a site on
the New Brighton promenade for staging a Milk Publicity Exhibi¬
tion. This took the form of a mobilette, which is an elaborately
constructed and equipped mobile milking parlour complete with
cow and all equipment and apparatus necessary to demonstrate
modern methods of machine milking and cooling.

The National Milk Publicity Council devotes much care and
expenditure to this very enterprising form of milk publicity, at the
same time observing the highest standards of hygiene. To encourage
the milk drinking habit, ice cold cartoned supplies of milk were on
sale to the public.

MEAT AND FOOD INSPECTION

Visits made to food shops, including butchers, fishmongers
and other shops engaged in the sale and handling of foodstuffs,
resulted in the following quantities of food being disposed of as
unfit for human consumption: —

Meat

Fish

lbs.

stone

; Beef

. 160

Fish Fillets .

. 1

Bacon

. 137

Herrings .

. 1

Canned Goods

76

Fruit .

Cans

Caas

... 118

Fruit Juices ...

. 19

Milk .

... 24

Fish .

. 18

Meat .

Poultry

... 23

Soup .

. 12

1 chicken carcase —
22 tins chicken.

uncooked

— 6i lbs.

Miscellaneous

Items of Foodstuff . 22 Quantity of Miscellaneous

Sliced Meat — various ... 65 lbs. Frozen Foods . 203 pkts.

Margarine & Cooking Fat

198 lbs.

In addition, during the year 159 containers comprising corned
beef, corned mutton, chopped pork, cooked gammon, cooked
shoulder, pork luncheon meat, lunch tongue, jellied veal and pork
representing a total weight of 1,140 lbs. were dealt with by volun¬
tary surrender at food premises as being unlit for the purpose of
sale for human consumption. 36 lbs. of canned salmon was
similarly dealt with at a Food Factory.

44 consumer complaints were received relating to purchased
foodstuffs. 128 requests were received to visit food premises in
connection with foodstuffs found to be in a doubtful or unfit con¬
dition. At a butcher’s shop, a hind quarter of home-killed beef
affected with bone taint was surrendered for destruction. At the
premises of another butcher, it was necessary to condemn a 20 lb.
leg of pork which, owing to injury, was found to be unfit for the
purpose of sale. A fire, which caused considerable damage at a
factory manufacturing Easter eggs and chocolate confectionery
resulted in 4,872 lbs. of slab chocolate being condemned. This
was necessary owing to contamination by smoke and because of
the risk of the presence of glass particles in the chocolate caused
by the breakage and fragmentation of windows during the fire.

Special enquiries and investigations were made in a number
of instances involving foodstuffs, and communications were for¬
warded to manufacturers. In a number of cases, special considera¬
tion was given to the legal provisions governing the sale of food,
but no proceedings were instituted.

Six visits were made to hospital catering departments and
forty-nine visits to the premises of wholesale food distributors.

Formerly foodstuffs unfit for human consumption, but which
were otherwise suitable for processing for animal feeding purposes,
were sent to the Corporation plant at Birkenhead. 1 hese pro¬
cessing facilities are no longer available and all unlit food is
disposed of by burial. Fats and similar foods unfit for human
consumption are diverted for industrial refining.

Various matters arising in the course of visitation were
referred to the District Public Health Inspectors.

77

During the year, services relating to meat and food inspection
were provided to the following catering departments of the
Corporation: —

Welfare Department
School Meals
Town Hall
Ferries

Motor Bus Undertaking.

The Animal Feeding Meat and the Meat Staining Regulations, 1959

These Regulations, which apply in England and Wales, came
into force during the year and require all butcher’s meat and
imported meat unfit for human consumption to be sterilised and
all knacker meat to be stained or sterilised before entering the
chain of distribution. Raw feeding meats required for zoos and
menageries, etc., and raw meat required for medical and veterinary
instructional schools, and for pharmaceutical purposes, are not
affected by the Regulations.

All pet shops in the Borough were advised of the general
provisions of these Regulations.

WALLASEY AND ALFRED LAIRAGES

Landing Place for Irish and Isle of Man Animals
and Foreign Animals Landing Wharf

This year 51,144 store and fat cattle were accommodated and
subsequently despatched by rail and road transport from the
Lairage at this landing place. This figure shows an increase of
10,730 on the number of cattle handled in the previous year.

Of the animals detained by the Veterinary Officers, 109 were
slaughtered, this being 50 more than the number slaughtered the
previous year.

Post mortem examination of all carcases, viscera and offal
was carried out by this department, and the following is a tabula¬
tion of the diseased conditions met with and the condemnations

made: —

Cattle

Number killed . 109

Number inspected . 109

AH diseases except Tuberculosis and Cysticerci

Whole carcases condemned . Nil

Carcases of which some part or organ was condemned 74
Percentage of the number inspected affected with
disease other than tuberculosis and cysticerci . 67.9%

Tuberculosis only

Whole carcases condemned . Nil

Carcases of which some part or organ was condemned 1
Percentage of the number inspected affected with

tuberculosis . 0.91%

Cysticercosls

Carcases of which some part or organ was condemned Nil

arcases submitted to treatment by refrigeration . Nil

^eralised and totally condemned . Nil

78

Total weight of meat and oftal condemned

Meat . Nil

Offal . 1,370 lbs.

94 visits were made during the year to the Slaughter House at
this landing wharf.

Slaughterhouse Act, 1958

Under this Act, the Council were required to review the exist¬
ing and future requirements of the district in connection with the
need for slaughtering facilities and, in turn, to furnish the Minister
with a report thereon. This review was carried out and completed
during the year and the requisite report furnished to the Minister.

PUBLIC HEALTH (SHELLFISH) REGULATIONS
Mussel and Cockle Beds — Wallasey Foreshore

During the year a reference was received from the Liverpool
Port Sanitary Authority concerning the taking of cockles from the
Leasowe Foreshore for the purpose of sale at a local cafe. Enquiries
revealed that no serious attempt had been made by the Cafe
Proprietor in this connection, and a warning was issued.

Two persons made enquiries concerning the taking and cook¬
ing of shellfish for the purpose of sale. In one case the enquiry
was not pursued; in the other, representatives of the Port Health
Authority and of this department had consultation at the premises
which it was proposed to use for this purpose, but the applicant,
after being advised of the necessary work required to comply with
the Regulations, abandoned the project.

No further complaints were received during the year relating
to the taking of shellfish from these layings.

DISEASES OF ANIMALS ACTS AND ORDERS
Notifiable Scheduled Diseases of Animals

In November, a large area of the country was placed under
movement restriction to prevent the spread of foot and mouth
disease. The Borough was included but, under a new arrange¬
ment, licences authorising the movement of animals have now
to be issued by the Licensing Authority at the place of destina¬
tion. During the period of restriction a number of fat pigs were
moved under licence to slaughterhouses and bacon factories outside
the Borough.

During the year movement restrictions were also imposed tor
preventing^the spread of swine fever. This also embraced a sub¬
stantial area of the country and included the Borough. During
the period of restriction fat pigs were licensed out of the
Borough and store pigs were brought into the Borough under
licence for fattening purposes.

A pigkeeper reported the death of a pig which had recently
been brought on to the piggery from a saleyard. This case was
dealt with by a private veterinary surgeon. Post mortem examina¬
tion of the carcase revealed no evidence to indicate the presence of
any notifiable disease and no further deaths of swine took place
at th piggery.

Under the Regulation of Movement of Swine Order, 1959, 375
store pigs were brought into the Borough from Chester, Mold,
Beeston and Abergele markets, a decrease of 186 on the previous
year.

A suspected case of anthrax involving the carcase of a short¬
horn cow was notified to the Ministry of Agriculture. Veterinary
examination and diagnostic laboratory tests resulted in a negative
report.

A complaint was received relating to children gaining access
into a field and handling and riding a horse which was alleged to
be affected with ringworm. The matter was investigated with
negative results.

During the year references were received from the coastguard
and police concerning carcases washed ashore during high tides.
The carcases included those of an ox, sheep, porpoise, pig and dog.
Removal and disposal of the carcases in each case was made by
the Borough Engineer’s Department.

Severe flooding of the River Birket following incessant rain
which coincided with high tides in the Mersey resulted in 12 Fresian
heifers being in danger of becoming trapped by the rising waters.
Darkness added to the hazards of the situation, but the animals
were subsequently driven through the flood water to ground at a
higher level.

Seasonal spraying with an approved all-purpose single type dip
was again resorted to by the owner of the sheep and lambs grazing
the Bidston Marshes. A problem related to dipping which has, for
some time, prevailed at this site has not yet been resolved. One
of the main difficulties has been in obtaining an available supply of
clean water. The water used in the spraying process is obtained
from a mains supply and has to be conveyed to the site where the
spraying is carried out.

The Waste Food Order, 1957, requires the adequate cooking
or boiling of all swill as a means of safeguarding against the
danger and risk of Foot and Mouth Disease and Swine Fever.
Visits were made to piggeries in connection with the enforcement
of these Regulatioas.

New Orders made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
1 and Food were publicised during the year, and publicity material
was also distributed relating to potato crop damage and the
dorado beetle. A number of instances were reported of suspected
| Colorado beetle. In each case comparative examination of the
beetles revealed no characteristics to confirm suspicion. One
enquiry concerning potato blight was also received.

80

THE CHILDREN ACT, 1948

Children are medically examined as soon as possible after
admission to the Children’s Homes, and also before discharge, and
the medical staff of the Public Health Department give advice
whenever necessary.

THEATRICAL EMPLOYERS’ REGISTRATION ACT, 1925

No applications for registration were received during the year.

DOMESTIC SERVANTS’ REGISTRIES

There were no applications for registration as Domestic
Servants’ Registries during the year.

PART V.

Report of the Chief Public Health Inspector

on the

Environmental Health and Hygiene

of the Area

82

REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR
ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE OF

THE AREA

Introduction

I have pleasure in presenting this report on the work of the
public health inspectorate during the year 1960. This also happens
to be my third and last report.

Slum Clearance

The Council programme for the demolition of unlit dwelling
houses has now completed its fifth year. During the five years
approximately 600 houses have been included in clearance and
compulsory purchase orders, or have become subject to demolition
orders, closing orders or voluntary undertakings by owners. This
represents the completion of the first post-war five-year programme,
but much remains to be done. Early in the year circular 2/60 was
issued by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government request¬
ing that “ local-authorities with a continuing problem who forsee
that they will have completed their current five-year programme
by the end of 1960 should forthwith review the position and sub¬
mit further proposals to the Minister.”

In March, 1960, a special Report was submitted to the General
Health Committee recommending the inclusion of 567 dwellings in
a new programme covering the years 1961/65 inclusive. This pro¬
posal was made after a completely fresh survey of the town which
absorbed a great deal of inspectorial time.

Clean Air

During the year the Council’s smoke control programme also
forged ahead; initial surveys were completed in respect of nearly
6.000 dwelling houses. On the 1st September the Wallasey
(Moreton) Smoke Control Order No. 2 came into operation. This
was the largest area so far, embracing about 1,100 premises. The
Wallasey (Upton Road) Smoke Control Order No. 3 came into
operation on 1st October. A large smoke control scheme at
Brighton Street was also confirmed and an Order made in respect
of the whole of Leasowe and part of Wallasey Village.

Food Hygiene

Much time was also devoted during the year to improvement
of food and catering premises. As in previous years a special
effort was made to bring as many premises as possible in the New
Brighton area up to standard before the season opened, followed
by constant surveillance.

New Legislation

Towards the close of the year, the Noise Abatement Act be¬
came law. This provides a new weapon against noise and vibra¬
tion where it amounts to a nuisance. The Offices Act and the
Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act received the Royai
Assent just before Parliament rose for the Summer Recess.

Although the Offices Act is now on the Statute Book tu
Home Secretary has made a very important announcement.

83

has said that the Government have decided to introduce compre¬
hensive legislation to cover shops, offices and those railway
premises not already covered by factory legislation. Other classes
of premises dealt with in the Gowers Committee Report may also
be included. It is intended to introduce the new Bill before the
Offices Act comes into operation in 1962.

New Training Scheme

The year also witnessed an important event for Public Health
Inspectors in the introduction of a new training and examination
scheme. The new basic educational standard will be passes in the
General Certificate of Education at “O” level standard in at least
four subjects. A pass in each of three specified groups of subjects
will be required with one additional optional subject. As under
the existing scheme, there is a number of alternative qualifications
to the General Certificate of Education, but they are much fewer
than in the past.

Since the war, paid pupillage has become the established
method of entry to the profession. This has superseded the older
system of unpaid pupillage coupled in many instances with a
premium for the Chief Inspector. Practical training will in future
not only be on a full time basis but will extend throughout the
period of theoretical instruction i.e. four years. Local Authorities
employing students will have to be able to provide comprehensive
practical training and if not able to provide facilities over the
whole field should be able to arrange with other authorities for the
completion of the student’s practical training. The Board pres¬
cribes the maximum number of students any local authority may
employ at any time.

Theoretical instruction will be the basis of part-time day
release over a period of four years, the course being a specialised
one for inspectors alone. The new scheme introduces considerable
changes in the form and conduct of examinations. At the end of
each of the first three years of training students will have to pass
an examination. The final examination on the completion of
' training will be for the Board’s Diploma and will include four

Iapers, two practical tests and an oral examination.

This new scheme, based on a much widened syllabus, brings
ie training and examination system into line with the nature and
xtent of duties and responsibility. The foundations were laid by
ie Sanitary Inspectors’ Working Party which reported in 1953.
I can truly be said that the introduction of this new system is an
vent of considerable importance both to local authorities and to
lose entering this branch of the public health service,
taff

Several staff changes occurred during the year. Mr. L. Jones,
district Public Health Inspector, left to take up a similar position
I Wigan; Mr. I. Thompson, District Public Health Inspector, be-
ame Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector at Darlaston. Both
-ft with our best wishes for future success.

Mr. K. J. Warbrick and Mr. L. G. Ringrow joined the staff as
district Public Health Inspectors in November having previously
‘*rved with Liverpool Corporation.

84

Earlier in the year Mr. A. P. Thompson, Mr. J. H. Holland
and Mr. S. G. Haynes were appointed as technical assistants to
help with the implementation of the Council’s smoke control plans.

Examinations

During the year, Mr. W. Farr, District Inspector, was success¬
ful in the examination for the Royal Society of Health’s Diploma
for Smoke Inspectors. Mr. L. G. Ringrow and Mr. K. J. War-
brick both gained the Diploma in the Inspection of Meat and
Other Foods.

Conclusion

May I conclude with an expression of appreciation for the
support received from both Chairman and Members of the General
Health Committee and from Dr. Hall, Medical Officer of Health.
I am also very conscious of the goodwill and assistance which has
invariably been forthcoming from my colleagues in other Depart¬
ments. In addition my thanks are due to my Deputy, Mr. Ridg-
way, the Public Health Inspectors, Technical Assistants, secretarial
and other staff for their loyalty, enthusiasm and hard work during
the year.

Abatement of Nuisances and House Repairs

The year’s work, in respect of the enforcement of house
repairs, has followed the pattern of previous years. As a result
of conflicting judgments given by the County Courts in respect of
appeals against notices served by various local authorities under
section 9 of the Housing Act, 1957, reliance has been placed mainly
on the nuisances provisions of the Public Health Act, 1936.

Complaints received during the year numbered 2,113, which is
146 less than for the previous year. The complaints and action
arising out of them led to 16,554 visits being made to dwelling
houses; 838 preliminary and 523 statutory notices were served.
The summary of the defects remedied indicates the effectiveness of
the enforcement procedure. Legal proceedings were resorted to
on 16 occasions.

Dwelling Houses

Roofs repaired .

Gutters and Spouts repaired or renewed .

External walls and chimneys repaired .

Damp Proof courses provided .

Yards paved or repaired . . .

Internal walls and ceilings repaired .

Doors, Windows, repaired or renewed .

Floors repaired or renewed .

Rooms, passages, etc., cleansed or redecorated

Staircases, handrails, repaired .

Fireplaces, stoves, flues, repaired or renewed . .
Sinks, baths, washbasins, repaired or renewed

Food stores provided or improved .

Water supply improved or reinstated .

W.C’s cleansed or redecorated .

Nuisances
A bated
. 391

. 201
. 224

. 160
. 75

. 226
. 257
. 83

1

17

. 59

30

1

65

W.C’s repaired or provided . 228

Soil /waste pipes, repaired or renewed . 88

Drains cleansed from obstruction . 99

Drains repaired or improved . 17

Drainer boards repaired or renewed . 9

Miscellaneous improvements effected . 24

Total ... 2,257

General Environmental Public Health Nuisances Abated

Notices
A bated

Removal of Offensive Accumulations . 20

Cleansing of Ditches and Streams .

Cinemas, Dance Halls: Contraventions . 1

Schools: W.C’s — Repairs and Renewal . —

Schools: Other Nuisances . —

Total ... 21

Total Number of Notices Served (all Acts)

Served A bated Out¬
standing

Preliminary . 1,693 1,921 509

Statutory . 525 556 135

2,128 2,477 644

Legal Proceedings (Cases heard) . 16

No. of Nuisance Orders applied for . 8

No. of Nuisance Orders obtained . 7

Total amount of fines and costs . £32 13 0

No. of prosecutions for non-compliance with Nuisance Order 6
Total amount of fines . £22 0 0

86

NO. OF FOOD BUSINESSES EXISTING WITHIN THE BOROUGH

AT 31st December 1960

Classification according to the areas administered by the District Public Health Inspectors

Type

Seacombe

Egremont

Poulton

Liscard

New

Brighton

Wallasey

Village

c

o

4

o

u,

o

2

Total

School Kitchens and Canteens
Local Authority Hostels,

4

7

3

10

7

6

9

46

Nurseries, etc. ...

Other Local Authority

1

2

1

3

2

9

Premises

—

—

1

2

1

1

5

Grocers

32

44

23

25

23

32

23

202

Cafes

6

10

2

4

73

5

3

103

Greengrocers

16

27

14

21

10

21

15

124

Confectioners and Bakehouses

6

12

10

16

7

10

13

74

Sweets

28

40

15

33

36

25

22

199

Butchers

15

13

12

18

9

14

15

96

Fried Fish ...

Shellfish and Refreshment

10

8

3

9

9

3

7

49

Stalls

—

27

5

32

General

18

10

9

21

19

8

24

109

Food Preparing Premises ...

1

1

1

2

3

2

2

12

Wet Fish

6

6

4

4

2

4

3

29 i

Chemists and Druggists

6

8

5

5

4

6

8

42 :]

Club Premises and Canteens

10

8

5

6

6

12

4

51 1

Licensed Premises ...

20

9

8

16

26

8

9

96 i!

Miscellaneous

1

3

_

—

4 1

Totals

179

206

114

192

269

157

165

" " 1

1282 i

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1955: FOOD HYGIENE

Despite heavy demands made upon the time of the District
Public Health Inspectors, it has been possible to maintain constant
vigilance in this important held. It is through an educational
process, constantly maintained, that good practices will eventually
prevail throughout all food-handling activities.

Food Premises

No. of Visits to AH Premises . 2,227 |

Viz: —

(a) Cafes, etc. (Visits) . 197

(b) School Meals (Visits) . 90

(c) Other F.P.P. (Visits) . 220

(d) Licensed Premises (Visits) . ID

(e) Ice Cream: (Visits re Registration) . 17

„ Manufacturing Premises (Visits) .

„ Sales and Storage Premises (Visits) . **63

(f) Food Shops . 1.657 1:1

(g) Sec. 16B Premises . 1^

87

Work Carried out under Food Hygiene Regulations
Food Premises

Premises cleansed or repaired . 198

Equipment cleansed or repaired . 89

Hot, cold water supply provided or improved . 135

Sinks, washbasins provided or improved . 154

Food storage facilities provided or improved . 101

Personal hygiene improved . 82

Sanitary accommodation cleansed, repaired or improved 91
Miscellaneous improvements effected . 265

Total... 1,115

Registered Food Premises

The Minister of Health has requested that a classification of
registered premises be included in this report. The required
information is as follows: —

No. of No. of

Premises Visits

List of Registered Food Premises, 1960

Section 16 (a) Food and Drugs Act, 1955 . 560 472

Section 16 (b) Food and Drugs Act, 1955 . 144 102

Total ... 704 574

(N.B. — A classification of the types of premises registered under
section 16 (a) is given in the part of the report dealing with ice
cream).

Summary of Types of Food Premises Registered under
section 16 (b) Food and Drugs Act, 1955

Bakehouses, Meat Pies . 45

Meat Pies and Cooked Meats . 19

Butchers, Sausages . 45

Sausages and Cooked Meats . 23

Grocers, Potted Meats . 2

Boiled Hams . 5

Cooked Meat Factories . 2

Other Premises, Meat Pies . 3

CONTROL OF ICE CREAM PREMISES

74 samples of ice cream were subjected to the methylene blue
Jost; 6 of them were placed in Grade 3 and 3 in Grade 4 — the
unsatisfactory ” grades. 18 samples were taken from 2 Wallasey
manufacturers, 1 of which failed to reach the standard suggested
hy the Minister. About 6 samples were taken of each of the
hrands of ice cream manufactured outside the borough and 8 failed
10 comply with the desired standard. A summary of the gradings
' Klvcn in succeeding pages. 489 inspections of ice cream premises
• -'ere made; 17 of the visits being in respect of new registrations to
1 *11 >ce cream.

88

ICE CREAM STATISTICS RELATIVE TO THE YEAR 1960

Registrations Approved during 1960

Storage only . j

Sale and Storage . 16

Manufacture and Sale . .

Total ... 17

Registrations Refused . Nil

Registrations Cancelled . Nil

Number of Premises on Register at close of Year

Storage and manufacture . 4

Sale only . 175

Storage only . 4

Storage and sale . 372

Manufacture, storage and sale . 2

Manufacture and sale . 3

Total ... 560

Visits of Inspection

Visits re applications for registration . 17

Routine visits . 472

Total ... 489

ICE CREAM SAMPLING, 1960
Classification of Samples by Location of Manufacturer

Ice Cream Manufactured in Wallasey

Grade

Methylen

(houj

e Blue

rs)

4J-

31—4

21—3

11-2

1-1

0-

hrs.

or

over

hrs.

hrs.

hrs.

hr.

hrs.

1

13

—

—

—

—

2

4

—

—

—

—

3

—

—

—

1

—

—

4

—

—

—

—

Total

13

4

—

1

—

- - - -

Ice Cream Manufactured outside Wallasey

1

2

3

4

46

1

1

5

.

____

3

Total

46

1

1

5

3

89

Result classified according to identity of Manufacturer

Ice Cream sampled at point of sale within the
County Borough District of Wallasey during 1960

Factories outside Wallasey — Table I.

Grading of Manu-

No. of Samples in Provisional

facturer by Ministry

Manu-

No. of

Grades

of Health recom-

facturer

Samples

mended Standards

Code No.

examined

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Satis-

Unsatis-

factory

factory

1

-

6

6

—

— —

—

*

—

2

6

6

—

—

—

*

—

3

6

—

1

2

3

—

*

4

6

6

—

—

—

*

—

5

7

6

—

1

—

*

—

6

6

6

—

—

—

*

—

7

6

6

—

—

—

*

—

8

6

5

—

1

—

*

—

9

6

5

1

— .

—

*

—

10

1

““““

1

Not classi

fied

56

46

2

5

3

8

1

! (82.14)

(3.57)

(8.93)

(5.36)

1 not class

ified

Factories located in Wallasey — Table II.

Manu¬
facturer
[ Code No.

No. of
Samples
examined

No. of Samples in Provisional
Grades

Grading of Manu¬
facturer by Ministry
of Health recom¬
mended Standards

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Satis¬

factory

Unsatis¬

factory

1

9

7

2

-

- -

*

-

2

9

6

2

1

*

18

13

(72.2)

4

(22.2)

1

(5.6)

—

2

(100.0)

°TES. — i. Figures in parenthesis denote percentages.

2. The manufacturer numbered 10 Table I above is not
classified owing to insufficient number of samples taken.

90

Three samples of lolly ices were taken during the year; the
results were as follows: —

Sample Colony count Colifonn

No. per ml. organisms H. Coli

@ 37°C

1. 12 Present in 1 ml. Absent in 1 ml.

2. 340 Present in 1 / 10th ml. Absent in 1 ml.

3. 1,050 Present in 1/1 0th ml. Present in 1/1 0th ml.

No organisms of the Salmonella group and no
Staph, pyogenes were found in any of these
3 samples.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE SHOPS ACT, 1950

There is one full-time shops inspector employed in this section
of the department and all the provisions of the Shops Act are
administered. To avoid duplication of visits the district public
health inspectors enforce the Act in food shops, which they visit
for other purposes. The shops inspector deals with other shops.
Routine patrolling to check compliance with hours of closing and
Sunday trading has been discontinued, visits only being made on
receipt of complaints.

The health and welfare sections of the Shops Act were the
main reason for the 3,666 routine visits made during the year.
The general standard of compliance with these aspects of the Act
continues to be good.

Nature of Contraventions remedied

Section 37 (1) Provision of seats for female employees .

38(1) (a) Suitable and sufficient ventilation . 3

( b ) Maintenance of reasonable temperature ... 1

38 (2) Provision of Sanitary Accommodation . 4

38 (3) Sanitary Accommodation cleansed and repaired 36
38 (4) Provision of suitable and sufficient lighting ... 1

38 (4) Provision of washing facilities . 4

38 (5) Provision of facilities for meals .

Notices and Documents provided . . 630

General sanitary conditions improved . 10

Hours of Employment

Contraventions detected and remedied .

Hours of Closing and Sunday trading

Number of contraventions noted .

„ warnings issued .

,, prosecutions instituted .

HOUSING

Rent Act, 1957

PART I : Applications for Certificates of Disrepair

(1) Number of applications for certificates .

(2) Number of decisions not to issue certificates .

(3) Number of decisions to issue certificates

(a) in respect of some but not all defects .

(/>) in respect of all defects .

91

(4) Number of undertakings given by landlords under

paragraph 5 of the First Schedule . 37

(5) Number of undertakings refused by Local Authority

under proviso to paragraph 5 of the First Schedule

(6) Number of Certificates issued . 8

PART II : Applications for Cancellation of Certificates

(7) Applications by landlords to Local Authority for

cancellation of certificates . 8

(8) Objections by tenants to cancellation of certificates ...

(9) Decisions by Local Authority to cancel in spite of

tenants’ objection . —

(10) Certificates cancelled by Local Authority . 10

Summary of repairs executed on the 10 certificates of disrepair
which were cancelled during the year

Roofs repaired . 5

Gutters and Spouts repaired or renewed . 1

External Walls and Chimneys repaired . 20

Damp Proof courses provided . —

Yards paved and repaired . 6

Internal Walls and Ceilings repaired . 2

Windows and Doors repaired or renewed . 48

Floors repaired or renewed . 5

Staircases and Handrails repaired or renewed . —

Fireplaces and Flues repaired or renewed . 3

Baths, Sinks or Lavatory Basins repaired or renewed . 1

Water supply improved . —

W.C’s cleaned . —

W.C. repairs and renewals . 4

Food stores provided . —

Soil Pipes or Waste Pipes repaired or renewed . 1

Drains repaired . —

Drainer Boards repaired or renewed . 1

Miscellaneous repairs . 3

External decorations . 4

Total... 104

( learance and demolition of unfit houses

Work continued throughout the year on the clearance of the
houses in the Council’s five-year programme. The work is neces-
sarily arduous and the procedure protracted, involving detailed
inspection, the serving of notices and, where objections are lodged,
”1® inducting of a public local inquiry by an inspector of the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government. The following orders,
etc., were made during the year: —

Demolition Orders
7 Haig Avenue.

Rose Cottage,” Netherton Road.

92

Demolition by Voluntary Undertakings

*23 Arrowe Avenue.

29 Arrowe Avenue.

1 , The Cottage, Folly Lane.

2, The Cottage, Folly Lane.

*5 Snowden Road.

226 Wallasey Village.

228 Wallasey Village.

230 Wallasey Village.

232 Wallasey Village.

156 Wallasey Village.

158 Wallasey Village.

160 Wallasey Village.

“ The Bungalow,” Butler’s Garage, Breck Road.

50 Bermuda Road.

52 Bermuda Road.

95 Bermuda Road.

42 Carnsdale Road.

Closure by Voluntary Undertaking
10 Belle Vue Road.

Certificates of Unfitness

4 Manor Road.

6 Manor Road.

2 Seymour Place West.

4 Seymour Place West.

6 Seymour Place West.

10 Seymour Place West.

12 Seymour Place West.

* Denotes premises demolished during the year.
Clearance Orders

Clearance Order No. 100: Alfred Road.

4—36 Alfred Road.

Clearance Order No. 101: Breck Place.

1 — 13 Breck Place.

There were no objectors and the above orders were confirmed
without modification on 20th July, 1960.

Clearance Order No. 103: Rock Cottages
Rake Lane

1 — 5 Rock Cottages.

The owner of the five houses objected on the grounds that the
properties were not unfit. A public local inquiry was held on 14th
June, 1960, to consider the objection. The Order was confirmed
without modification on 14th September. 1960.

Clearance Order No. 102: Urmson Road
13 — 19 Urmson Road.

93

A public local inquiry was held on 27th September, 1960, to
consider objections. The order was confirmed without modification
on 1st February, 1961.

The Wallasey (No. 105) 236a/238a Wallasey Village
Clearance Order, 1960.

236a/238a Wallasey Village.

A clearance order w'as made on the above properties on 6th
October, 1960. No objections were submitted and the order was
confirmed without modification on 27th February, 1961.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

The Wallasey (Clearance Nos. 97 — 99) Seymour Place
Compulsory Purchase Order, 1959.

8, 14, 16, Seymour Place West.

1 — 17 Seymour Place East.

2 — 18 Seymour Place East
1 — 4 Plantation Cottages.

1, 3, 22, 24 Seymour Street.

A public local inquiry was held on 14 June, 1960, to consider
objections. The Order was confirmed without modification on
20th September, 1960.

The Wallasey (Clearance No. 104) Prospect Buildings, and
Prospect Cottages Compulsory Purchase Order, 1960.

1 — 3 Prospect Buildings.

1 — 2 Prospect Cottages.

The above compulsory purchase order was made on 6th
October, 1960. No objections were received and the order was
confirmed without modification on the 7th March, 1961.

Progress Report of Action under Housing Acts, 1930-1957

Position as at 31sf December, 1960

No. of c
houses de

welling

molished

Number
of persons
displaced

Unfit

Other

Land coloured “pink” .

r coloured “grey” .

1,026

10

2,741

42

94

Unfit Houses not included in Clearance Areas

Number Number

of of persons

houses displaced

(1) Housing Act, 1957: —

(a) Houses demolished as a result of formal

procedure under Sec. 17 (1) . i

( b ) Houses demolished as a result of informal

notices preliminary to formal procedure
under Sec. 17 (1) .

(c) Local Authority owned houses subject to

certificates of unfitness .

(d) Houses closed in pursuance of an under¬
taking given by the owners under Sec. (17)

( e ) Parts of buildings closed (Sec. 18) .

(/) Houses made fit : —

(i) as a result of formal notices under

Sections 9 to 12 .

(ii) as a result of informal notices preliminary
to formal procedure under Sections 9 to
1?

A ~ ••• ••• ••• • • • ••• ••• ••• •••

(1) Housing Act, 1957: —

( g ) Closing Orders made under Section 17 .

( h ) Demolition Orders determined and Closing

Orders substituted under Section 26 .

(t) Demolition Orders quashed under Section 24

Overcrowding and Allocation of Tenancies

The Council continued to operate its Group-plus-Points
Scheme for re-housing. Re-housing of families from unfit houses
remains outside hte points scheme. The following summary shows
the shares of lettings now in force.

Overcrowded tenants, and sub-tenants )

and not overcrowded sub-tenants ) 85%

304

999

171

434

15

50

11

33

21

41

256

—

851

—

3

14

—

—

Health . 12%

Emergency . 3%

All overcrowding cases must have been overcrowded for at
least one year to obtain the extra points allocated for overcrowding.

During the year, the housing circumstances of 506 families
were investigated in connection with housing applications, 343 of
these as a result of applications for inclusion in the Overcrowded
group. 156 families were found to be overcrowded for the pur¬
poses of the points scheme, which employs a standard better than

that of the Housing Act.

Applications for rehousing on health grounds showed a
decrease of 44 on the previous year. 163 applications were con¬
sidered and these are analysed below. It is only possible for the
most urgent cases to be recommended for rehousing, and only A'
applicants in this class received the approval of the Medical Otlicer i
of Health. In 5 of these instances, the illness giving rise to the.
need for rehousing was pulmonary tuberculosis, one fewer than m
the previous year. The bulk of the applications came from persons

95

suffering from old age, arthritis and high blood pressure. These
cases all require ground floor accommodation.

Housing Applications, 1960

Analysis of 506 families investigated as a result of
references from Housing Department.

Not

Over¬

crowded

Points

Scheme

Applications on Medical Grounds

Overcrowded

Tuberculosis

Other Cases

Housing Points
Act, 1936 Scheme

Approved

Rejected

Approved

Rejected

Ten¬

ants

17

50

121

1

17

7

60

Sub-
Ten’ts
living
in r’ms

44

106

66

4

, - -

12

8

54

Totals

61

156

187

5

29

15

114

Provision of New Houses

The Borough Architect has provided the following report on
the provision of new housing accommodation : —

During

1960

Post-Wai
Period
inch 1960

In

Progress

31/12/60

Houses erected by private enter¬
prise .

77

1,706

65

Units of accommodation erected
by Local Authority under
Housing Acts .

:

107

3,705

155

Tenant Ownership Houses
erected by Local Authority ...

12

174

2

INSPECTION OF FACTORIES

The number of factories on the register at the end of the year

was 255, a decrease of 1 compared with the figure for 1959. 551
• •

visits were made. An abstract of the results of these inspections
in the form required by the Ministry of Labour and National Ser¬
vice is set out overleaf: —

96

Administration of the Factories Act, 1937

Inspections for Purposes of Provisions as to Health

Premises

No. on
Register

Number of

Inspections

Written

Notices*

Factories in which Sections 13 2, 3, 4

18

and 6 are to be enforced .

Factories not included in above in

7

which Section 7 is enforced by the

223

518

3

Local Authority . •••

Other premises in which Section 7 is

enforced by the Local Authority
(excluding out-workers premises) ...

25

15

—

Totals .

255

551

_ _

♦in addition 30 verbal notices were given to occupiers regarding various

matters.

Cases in which defects were found

Particulars

Remedied ■

Want of cleanliness (S.l) .

Overcrowding (S. 2) ... ••• •••

Unreasonable temperature (S.3) ...

Inadequate ventilation (S.4) .

Ineffective drainage of floors (S.6)
Sanitary Conveniences (S.7): —

(a) Insufficient .

\b) Unsuitable or defective

(c) Not separate for sexes .

Other offences against the Act (not
including offences relating to
Outwork) .

To H.M. By H.M.
Inspector Inspector

1

34

2

38

Outwork

Wearing apparel-making, etc.

Number of outworkers in Aug. ^
list required by section 1 10 (i) (c) ~
Visits made .

WATER SUPPLY
Town Area Supply

Quantity *

The total consumption of water in the town arcaf ,7 ’domestic
39 0 gallons per head per day, of which 29.7 was for don •
purposes 0.3 gallons for shipping, 8.8 gallons for imlusl )
commerce, and for the Cleansing Department 0.02 gallons.

97

Source and Treatment

Water is obtained from three sources — a bulk supply from
Birkenhead C orporation’s Lake Alwen, a supply from the River
Dee works owned jointly by Birkenhead and Wallasey Corporations

and the remainder obtained lrom deep boreholes within the
borough.

The borehole water is softened by the base exchange process
and chlorinated. The Alwen bulk supply is treated by the Birken¬
head Corporation before delivery. This treatment includes
coagulation, filtration, pH correction and chloramine dosing. The
River Dee supply receives similar treatment except that sterilisa¬
tion is by superchlorination and dechlorination. Activated carbon
treatment is used as necessary to control tastes.

There are no houses in the Borough without a piped supply
but six bungalows at “ Castlefields Ditton Lane, are supplied by
means of a standpipe.

CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

123 samples were submitted to bacteriological examination by
the Water Department, of these 3 gave presumptive positive tests
but confirmatory tests showed that all were of the non-faecal type.’

14 samples were submitted to routine chemical analysis by the
Water Department. J y

Details of typical chemical analysis are given below.

I he water supply of the area has been satisfactory, both as to
quality and quantity. y

duringThe year™1 ^ °f the 52 saniPles of water tested

Free Amonia .

Albuminoid Ammonia
Nitrate Nitrogen ...

Nitrite Nitrogen .

Free Chlorine

Combined Residual Chlorine

Lead .

Iron .

Copper .

pH value .

Colour .

^xygen absorbed at
A/ C. in 4 hours ...

. °tal dissolved solids
emporary Hardness

otal Hardness .

'otal Chlorides ...

Less than

District

District 4

.006

.028

.032

.028

.75

.32

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

.01

.01

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

6.9

7.5

5°

Less than 5 °

.4

1.0

336

112

24

2

104

52

102

15

9 9

Results in parts per million.

98

Water supplied in Wallasey, except Seacombe and Poulton.
Water supplied in Poulton, Seacombe, Moreton and Leasowe.

Results of 20 samples taken by public health inspectors of un¬
treated water at the borehole in Seaview Road and submitted to
the Public Health Laboratory Service are as follows : -

Details of Bacteriological Samples

Town Area Supply
(i) Borehole at Seaview Road

No. of
Organisms

No. of Samples

.

1 day at 37° C.

Pres. Coli.

Bact Coli.
(type 1)

0

— ,, i

20

20

1—4

1

5—9

—

10—20

|

21—50

1 ~~

-1

- —————

: 20

20

20

31 samples were taken by public health inspectors from taps
of premises within the town area.

A summary of the results is given in the following table

(ii) Random Distribution Points

I

No. of Samples

No. of
Organisms

1 day at 37 JC.

Pres. Coli.

Bact. Coli.
(type 1)

_

0

1—4

5—9

10—20

21—50

25

6

28

3

31

3!

31

31

One sample of the town supply taken oy a puuuc
inspector was submitted for full chemical examination. The rcsul

was as follows:

Analytical results expressed in parts per million. — ^ ^

Total solid matter in solution ••••••.*•• . n 79 <

Oxygen required to oxidise in 15 minutes . j ' \i j

99

Ammoniacal nitrogen as N. ... nm

Albuminoid nitrogen as N. . J:™

Nitrous nitrogen as N . ” . . f' "* u:>

Nitric nitrogen as N . . ^[one

Combined chlorine . . . . . ^0°[?e

Total Hardness .. .

pH value 7.4

,,om poiiMion and

Saughall Massie Supply

_ .Dw®lling houses in the extreme western end of the boronph
receive their water supply from the West Cheshire Water Board
This water is obtained from deep wells at the •

stations and river supply taken from the River Dee at Chester *and
Rea ted at the Board’s Sutton Hall Treatment Works GreaTsntfn^

by iteBmrf l.T,S.rPM° thr“Sl'“1 ,he entire area supped

LaCZ: ^licHeS

The followfnp taM^' • bactenological examination.

No. of
Colonies
(on Agar)

No. of Samples

3 days at 20°C.| I day at 37°C. 2 days at 37°C.

fromApremonSPumDinT Sta^iCal exa™i.[?ations of the water taken
million):- P 8 Statlon ,s as follows (results in parts per

Appearance . . r-, „ . ,

Colour . Clear— Bright

Turbidity . N‘l

^Aiour .

<PH reaction '.V .‘.V . Vcry sIightly Chlorinous

conductivity . 590 0

iHonne present as Chloride !" go 66

100

Hardness : Non-carbonate . 70.()

Carbonate .

Total Hardness . 250.0

Nitrate Nitrogen . 3. ,

Ammoniacal Nitrogen . nYmn

Albuminoid Nitrogen . rvm

Free Carbon Dioxide .

Total Solids . ••••■ "• ••• • " , i

Alkalinity as Calcium Carbonate ... 1»0.U

Nitrate Nitrogen . tlfi

Oxygen absorbed . •

Residual Chlonne ............ ...... ^

Jj.on . Absent

^}nc . Absent

Other Metals . Absent

for bacteriological examination.

Details of Bacteriological Samples

West Cheshire Water Board
Samples taken by public health inspectors
at selected distribution points

No. of
Organisms

0

l-^l

5—9

10—20

21—50

51—100

No. of Samples

1

| 1 day at 37 °C.

Pres. Coli.

Bact. Coli.
(type 1)

17

20

21

3 1

1

_

1 _l

—

—

| 21

1 — - - -

21

21

One sample of water supplied l by nt^ ^.eSt j^braftted for

Board was taken by a PubllH Xls^ follows: -

full chemical examination. The resu

Analytical results expressed in parts per million.—

Total solid matter in solution ... ... "••••” . ’ ’

Oxygen required to oxidise in 15 minute ... •

Ammoniacal nitrogen as N.
Albuminoid nitrogen as N.

Nitrous nitrogen as N .

Nitric nitrogen as N .

Combined chlorine .

293.4

0.30

0.45

None

None

None

2.8

S5.2

101

Total hardness . i<on

Hardness (non-Carbonate) . .

Hardness (Carbonate) . i . . jjq

pH value 7.4

The water is quite fit for drinking and all domestic purposes.

SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE
House Drainage

Visits by public health inspectors in connection with same 650
Drams cleansed from obstruction after service of notiS 99
Drains repaired or renewed * ’ * TL

Drain Tests : . . 17

Offensive Accumulations and Ditches: Nuisances Abated 20

the year 1960°:^ W°rks have been carried out during

0) con9s™fnerprinT re'ief S6Wer 50 >ards length was
constructed in Pnncesway at a cost of £500.

(2> c^n!t rucied Irom'w"1 ^ 7" 200 -vards in length was
cos" of £1 300 W,nterhey Avenue to Gorsey Lane at a

(3) The existing sewer in Union Street 400 yards in length was
reconstructed at a cost of £4,500. ngtn was

<4' Wirral'omfa'll'^ Carried 0Ut to the 24" dia- North
wirral Outfall Sewer at a cost of £2,400.

(5) The water course on the west sidp nf m-i r

SSThVi!'tge SKIi,°” KplS'.st’.S

under School Lane enlarged at a cost of £300.

Difficulties occur from time to timp in
a result of inadequate sewer capacity:- H following areas as

Wallasey Village.

North Wirral outfall area of Moreton.

Central area of Liscard and Poulton.

,ha$ ,he SUbieCt 0f a consultant’s
improve the drainage fn th?i °f k rCp0rt\‘he Council decided to
Mage which includes the HT, nUmber °f «*&*■ The first
*■'». i, in ph«pSo“ “* »« « Village

w ta1 Wirr;' *"* »f

facilities. A scheme nrenired hv ^earS | UC t0 inadequate drainage
Authorities concern Jl d by consultants on behalf of the four

but this has mefwi^ recommended a new outfall into the Dee

i,Jcely that the final scheme’wi'innrf1 8rounds- It seems

ment and disposal. include facilities for sewage treat-

4ie central area oT Lisca'rd "a n r |C<p ' * 'i? lsolated d°oding occurs in

are to he made to a™ b, ?£? P°.U,t0n and Preliminary surveys
e to ascertain the real extent of the problem.

102

rodent control

Sewer Maintenance Treatments

Two routine sewer maintenance treatments were again carried
out using zinc phosphide and arsenic as the rodenticides In addi¬
tion a further sewer treatment was carried out using Warfarin.

Prior to the first routine treatment involving the use of zinc
phosphide, a 10% test baiting of 581 manholes was nndeitekem

The number of takes-10 complete and 10 Pa%al~'s^ ^ were
nf the success of the work previously done. 91 manholes were

baited as a result of the test and 6 partial takes ^°rdech
The second routine treatment involved baiting 91 manho .

takes were recorded.

241 manholes were treated with Warfarin and no takes were
recorded.

Surface Infestations

Durins the year 452 complaints of surface infestation were
received cLpar^l with 400 hf 1959. Details of the . ms—
and treatments carried out are given overleaf in the form icq
by the Ministry of Agricu ture Fishenes^and

ofeathTpubUcr Health Department. 392 of these premises were
treated once in the year, while reinfestation involving two treat-
£X?£m3 i" 56 premises; rhree

4 prennses, lour treatmemwt ^"“l0tln,b|, due reinlesm-

SLiTseventh, e^eXndlourteenth days, a system which
was discussed in the annual report for 1952.

103

»

— - —

Type of Property

Local

f

All other

Dwelling-

Agri-

(incl. Business

Total

Authority

houses

cultural

& Industrial)

Total number of properties in
.Local Authority’s District ...

355

30.761

55

3,973

35,144

. Number of properties inspec¬
ted by the Local Authority as

(a) 26

341

3

82

452

a result of (a) notification or

>(&) survey under Damage by
t Pests Act (c) otherwise, i.e.

(b) 8

554

1

74

637

‘when visited primarily for
isome other purpose .

(c) 382

17,304

Nil

6,860

24,546

2. Number of properties (under

II) found to be infested by

Major Nil

Nil

Nil

1

1

Tats .

- - - __

Minor 10

135

2

31

178

!\ Number of properties (under

1 II) found to be seriously

infested by mice

23

214

Nil

53

290

Number of infested properties
sunder III & IV) treated bv

ihe Local Authority ...

33

344

2

78

457

.. Number of notices served
under Section 4:

1) Treatment

2) Structural Works (i.e.,

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Proofing) ...

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Total

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

I. Number of cases in which
lefault action was taken bv
-ocal Authority following
fisue of notice under Section 4

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

d. Legal Proceedings

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

W Numbers of “block” control
| cnemes carried out

—

—

—

_

3

Not NOTES

„ ' vd53£M"a»*£pm' “p”",y M «*

1 S;Tk! I””? r l,,'d“|-:J Dwelling Home,. Premise,

nmlbR °C AutrhTty for Proses of trade are included
under Business or Industrial Premises.

Sewers are not included.

Only properties devoted to agricultural or horticultural

Comh^ ,arc lncludj-‘d under Agricultural Properties.
Utmbined dwelhng and bustness premises where occupied

y the same person are included under Business Premises
Note , ?tIhc™’lsc they are entered separately. '

‘IlIT IV- and V excepting II (c) relate to the number of
Properties inspected as defined in Note 1 and not to the

A property ° msPecuons> infestations or treatment at each

104

PUBLIC HEALTH CONTROL OF SWIMMING POOLS

Swimming facilities in Wafseymdude the indoor bafeat

Guinea Gap. the outdoor the water being pumped

Drive. In each case, sea _ r Roths from the Marine

from the River Mersey for Gum* ^

Lake for New Brighton Pool an ming bath water under-

Bathing Pool. During operatio , .. . Dpiiv Gravity Filters

g+ ;t constant filtration process ut.hsmg ^l^Grav.ty^ ^

and modern chlorination equipm • Gap is once every

sterile water. The turnover at five hours,

three hours and at the two outdo P throughout the

Guinea Gap Baths remain open for ^ ar8e only in

S£ i. So, 1— .

49 visits of inspection were made to the council’s swimmmg
baths by public health inspectors compar bacteriological

year. . ,

At Guinea Gap ^^^**^£^1^1^0.44
the average result being 0.6 P P cof nding averages of 8
parts per million at the ouuei. Darts per million.

tests at the 2nd class ^ath were chlorine in the open air pools at
The maintenance of residual chlor difi£ult At New

New Brighton and Harrison ™ gives inlet contents of 0.27
Brighton pool the average 0 33 on the west side, with

parts per million on the ^ ^ ^.^o Q tests were done and the
only 0.15 at the outlet At Derby t'o million at the

average residual chlorine was 1-0 ; and ( W5 par J ^ outlet The

inlet and centre of the poo , wi nools are consistent with

results of the chlorine tests at h “sp Sh water, details of
the results of bacteriological examinations oi

which are tabulated below:—

Derby Pool

No. of

Organisms

0

1—4

5—9

10—19

20—49

50—99

100+

No. of Samples
Pres. Coli.

12

7

1

Bact. Coli.
(type 1)

13
6
1

105

New Brighton Pool

No. of

No. of Samples

Organisms

1 day at 37° C.

Pres. Coli.

Bact. Coli.

- - -

_

(type 1)

0

1

8

4

18

18

5—9

2

—

10—19

2

—

20—50

1

1

• —

Uncountable

—

—

18

18

18

Guinea Gap Baths

No. of

No. of Samples

Organisms

1 day at 37°C.

1

Pres. Coli.

Bact. Coli.
(type 1)

0

1-4

5-9

10—19

20 — 49

50—99

136

300

27

23

14

10

8

6

2

2

83

7

2

_

86

5

1

—

92

_ 1

92

92

Chemical examination - Specimen Analysis
Guinea Gap 2nd Class Bath

Analytical results expressed in parts per million
1 otal sol|d matter in solution

Oxygen required to oxidise in 15 minutes .

• • • • • •

AIU 4 hours .

Albuminoid nitrogen as N.

Ammoniacal nitrogen as N.

Nitrous nitrogen as N.

Nitri

c nitrogen as N.

Combined chlorine ...

free Chlorine .

PH value

26,602.0

0.37

0.67

0.01

0.15

None

None

14,500.0

0.60

7.9

106

This water is quite satisfactory for swimming bath purposes.

AIR POLLUTION
Summary of Observations and Visits

Clean Air :

Industrial Observations — Formal .

Industrial Observations — Informal .

Industrial Visits .

Domestic Observations .

Domestic Visits .

Other Visits to Smoke Control Areas .

Other Visits to Proposed Smoke Control Areas

Visits to Deposit Gauges .

80

263

106

87

977

216

6,628

69

Measurement of Air Pollution

It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of the scientific

measurement of air pollution, for this reveals not only _™nth y
and seasonal variations, but long-term changes as well The read
ings from a sufficient number of gauges and instruments
size of the problem to be appraised and compared and the effect,
of abatement programmes measured. About seven in every -vfr
of the “ black area ” authorities maintain measuring apparatus,

“ other areas” less than half do so. In Wa.lase> - four deposit
gauges are maintained for the measurement of soot-fall s
gauges for measuring the concentration of sulphur in the
phere.

107

TABLE 1

Rainfall

Total

Dissolved

Matter

Total

Undissolvec

Matter

Total Solids

Station

M.M.

Tons per sq. mile per month

Wint.

Sum.

Wint.

Sum.

Wint.

Sum.

Wint.

Sum.

Oakdale Road

Oct., 1959-
March, 1960

88.1

13.14

! 14.77

27.91

April, 1960 —

Sept., 1960

65.6

|

7.09

11.46

18.55

Gorsedale Road School
Oct., 1959-
March, 1960

80.8
- -

10.7

11.36

22.06

April, 1960 —

Sept., 1960

61.1

6.97

8.01

14.98

Saughall Massie

Oct., 1959-
March, 1960

79.3

9.64

1

-

4.17

13.81

April, 1960 —

Sept., 1960

—

60.6

3.80

1.48

5.28

Seaview Road

Oct., 1959-
March, 1960

L

81.6

12.06

..

8.70

20.76

April, 1960-
Sept., 1960

j

68.5

7.84 :

6.46

14.30

Table 2

Mean Monthly Rates of Total Deposits for Winter and Summer Periods

October, 1959 — September, 1960

Station

T ons per sq. mile per month

Winter

Manchester

,VerPool

Qxharn

•I Oakdale Road

Gorsedale Road School
•Saughall Massie
Seaview Road
Philips Park
Aigburth Vale
Rea Bam

27.91

22.06

13.81

20.76

29.41

11.68

12.90

Summer

18.55

14.98

5.28

14.30

25.02

10.63

4.80

Table 3

Estimation of Sulphur Dioxide by the Lead Peroxide Method for
Winter and Summer Periods, October, 1959— September, 1960.
Rate of Absorption of Sulphur Dioxide expressed as
Mg. SO’/day/lOO Cm-’

Station

Seaview Road

Oct., 1959— March, 1960
April, 1960— September, 1960

Town Hall, Wallasey

Oct., 1959— March, 1960
April, 1960— September, 1960

Winter

Period

Oakdale Road

Oct., 1959— March, 1960
April 1960 — September, 1960

Gorsedale Road School
Oct., 1959 — March, 1960
April, 1960— September, 1960

Saughall Massie

Oct., 1959 — March, 1960
April, 1960— September, 1960

3.560

3.542

1.304

3.470

8.786

Summer

Period

1.501

1.737

0.762

1.428

3.090

Oct., 1959
Sept., 1960

2.530

2.639

1.033

2.449

5.938

Note

(1) In the above classification the figure for the winter period consists
of an average of the recordings for the months of October, 1959, to
March, 1960. The figure for the summer period consist of an aver¬
age of the recordings for the months of April, 1 960, to September 1 960.

(2) The Philips Park Station records the greatest degree of pollution

of a number of stations in Manchester; it is situated in close .
proximity to large scale electricity, gas and colliery undertakings
in addition to many other works from which atmospheric pofiuuo

may arise.

Average Total Deposit Per Square Mile of the Borough Per '><* 1

October, 1959— September, 1960—206.47 tons ,

Smoke Control Areas , • to

The general development of the Council s policy in c
this relatively new and important subject has been ^ v (-ontrol ii
Introduction Wallasey now has five confirmed Smoke Con ||

Orders, as follows:—

109

110

Publicity

Publicity for the Clean Air Programme was arranged in the
form of a mobile exhibition from the Solid Smokeless Fuels
Federation at four separate sites in the borough, a demonstration
house run by the North Western Gas Board at Hoylake Road and
shop window displays at premises in Liscard Village, Poulton Road
and Victoria Road. A number of talks on Clean Air were given
to various organisations in the town.

Contraventions

Verbal and/or written warnings of first contraventions of
smoke control orders were issued to 32 premises. In no case has
a second contravention occurred.

The nature of the various offences was as follows:—

Burning of coal . 9

Burning of wood and paper . 13

Burning of kitchen waste refuse . 6

Not known (due to not being able to get
into premises) . 4

Industry

During the year 1 1 complaints of industrial pollution were
received and fully investigated. Five applications for prior
approval of fuel burning installations were received, three of which
were for oil-fired equipment and two for coke tired equipment.
All proposals were approved.

DISINFESTATION

Benzine hexachloride in kerosene has been used for the
majority of infestations of cockroaches. In addition to the work
done by the Corporation s operator, details of which are set out
below, surveillance was exercised over the hydrogen cyanide fumi¬
gation of a Hour mill.

Disinfestation

Inspections

(1) No. of complaints investigated .

(2) No. of private houses inspected as a result of (1) .

(3) No. of local authority houses inspected as a result of (1)

(4) No of premises other than dwelling houses inspected

as a result of (1) .

(5) No of premises found to be verminous :

(a) Bed Bugs .

(b) Fleas .

(c) Cockroaches .

(cl) Other Vermin .

252

103

105

44
38 ;

11 j

141 I
62:

"252:

Ill

Notices Served and Abated

(6)

(7)

(8)

Total No. of notices to disinfest

given verbally .

Total No. of preliminary notices
in writing .

Total No. of statutory notices

Served

3

Nil

Nil

3

Treated Abated
By L. A. Pri vately

— 3

3

Treatment by Council’s Operative

(9) No. of treatments on repayment . 442

(10) No. of treatments without charge . 2

(11) Total No. of treatments . 444

[ 12) No- of premises covered by treatments outlined in (11) 252

(13) No. of treatments with D.D.T. spray . ~ 80

v,a treatments with other spray insecticides . 364

(1M No. of treatments with other methods . Nil

444

(16) Fees received, £245 6s. Id.

HAG I LOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT

analv^if'!!nrithe ^ \ samples were submitted to prescribed
of cleanliness l° COmp,y WIth the Prescribed standards

type of Filling Material

B.S.S. 1425: 1951 ~ .

^ , No. of Samples

Hag Flock . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Washed Flock . . ,

Coir Fibre . .

B.S.S. 1762: 1951

Woollen Mixture Felt

are T ,registered under the Act- In the main they

r |,rr ,uph0 sterers whose main business is the repair or
reniimg of upholstered articles of furniture. p

CONTROL OF CAMPING

wisks Were made 10 ^censed sites during the year

•'he first wTk 7n er^n,LTre| llCe'!Srd fr°m the end of March until
the Caravan n! u ' , ' add,tlon lo ‘he above, branches of

Ipromcnadf . he,d ,1^0 canlPs on land situated on the

enade which is owned by the Corporation.

112

7

Nil

4

38

89

No. of licences relating to sites issued during 1960 ...

No. of licences relating to sites refused during -

No. of cases of unlicensed camping detected during 1960

No. of visits to unlicensed land .

No. of visits to licensed land .

Inspection of structures ... . ’

Nuisances abated after notice .

Site licences were issued under the Caravan Sites and Control
of Development Act, 1960, in respect of four caravan sites in the
borough new standards being laid down to improve amenities

of these sites.

KEEPING OF ANIMALS AND PEI SHOPS

The total number of pet shops is 15 which a ^propor¬
tionately hiah number for the size of the town All the ncences
are subiect to standard conditions approved by the Council. Thes
nondhio^ are based on local conditions, regard having been paid
to recommendations of the Association of Municipal Corporations

and the R.S.P.C.A. 22

Visits to pet shops . 49

Visits to other premises . 3

Animal nuisances abated .

MISCELLANEOUS INSPECTIONS

Visits

Nuisances
A bated

72

Schools . [7

Cinemas, dance halls, etc . 284

Sub-let rooms . 171

Public conveniences . . . 1 «21

Local Land Charges (search) . — y "j l'03

Measurements of rooms for permitted ^

Interviews with building contractors .

Offensive trades . 6 465

Other Visits .

1

2

WALLASEY CORPORATION ACT, 1958

Registration of Hairdressers granted for the registra-

MtSC* .fSSing establishments there be*

a"wofnO premises registered witbin the borottgh.

GO KART RACING

adjacent to New Brighton ^ racing,

and fumes from go karf: ^ rneeUng following the com- |

ears. Observations = kept .. noise *+

Observations were kept at '™'' ' ' ' “ ' the nSse, ineW-

plaints and every attempt was ^made were found to

ing the withdrawal, during the races, or car

have inefficient silencers.

PART VI.

Welfare Services

(National Assistance Act, 1948)

114

WELFARE SERVICES

I960
7
13
11
1
1

6

1

3

1

1

1

I960

9

12

11

1

1

2

1

2

1

110

10

2

1

1

104

9

31.12.60
43
20
17
3
6

Residential Accommodation

The Welfare Committee’s three Hostels tor Old People,

“ Lamorna ” “Redcliffe” and “ Newholme ” were again lull
throughout the year, any vacancies being lilled immediately.

At the end of the year there were 96 persons on the Waiting
List for Hostel accommodation compared with 105 at the begin¬
ning. This would appear to be a slight improvement, but even
so, ^efforts must not be relaxed to provide more accommodation

for old people.

To this end the opening in 1961 of the 2 hostels envisaged in
last year’s Report will take place. One of these, a 50-bedded hoste
which will be for the more infirm type of old person, should be the
to open, with the other Hostel, an 18-bedded one for old

persons, shortly after.

The following are the statistics relating to accommodation
provided by or on behalf of the Council in 1960.

No. Admissions Discharges No.
resident during during resident on
on 1.1 .60

“ Newholme ” . ^5

“ Lamorna ” y

“Redcliffe” ...... . 11

David Lewis Epileptic Colony 3

Home for Epileptics, Maghull 6

Turner Memorial Home ot
Rest for Cripples, Liverpool

Maryland, Formby .

Holm Hill, West Kirby . •

Old Peoples’ Hostel, L'pool
Leeds House, New Brighton

“ Springhill,” Nelson . ...

Middleton Home for the

Blind, Maid on, Essex . I

Charles Best House

(Diabetics), Parkgate ... ...

St. Vincent’s Hospice, L’pool
Tithebarn Home, Crosby ... 1

British Legion Home, Cromer,

Norfolk . ••• *

Methodist Home for Aged,

Fulwood Park, Liverpool l

Royal Alfred Home for Aged
Seamen, Belvedere, Kent ...

Alexian Brothers’ Home,

Moston, Manchester .

R.N.l.B. Oldbury Grange,

Bridgenorth .

R.N.l.B., Torquay .

Reception Centre,

Martins Lane . . .

4 Tower Street, Lower Flat
4 Tower Street, Upper Flat

1

1

l

1

17

6

5

8, Tower Street, Lower Flat
8, Tower Street, Upper Flat

8, Church Road, Flat A .

8, Church Road, Flat B ...

8, Church Road, Flat C ...

10, Church Road, Flat A
10, Church Road, Flat B
10, Church Road, Flat C

115

6

4
6
3

5

6

5

6

3

5

6

6

8

3

4

5
3

5

6
5
8

Totals 1 69

179

174

174

Temporary Accommodation

Linder the National Assistance

_ --- ~ ^Misianw Act, 1948, the Council is

required to provide temporary accommodation for persons in need
or same, e g., in the case of evictions where the families concerned
have found it impossible to obtain alternative housing.

The accommodation provided consists of (a) 10 sub-standard
Hats in Church Road and Tower Street, and (b) a Reception Centre
for Homeless Persons at 51, Martins Lane.

All this accommodation has been fully utilised throughout the
year immediately any flat became vacant it was occupied by a
family in need of temporary accommodation.

rwThe wmber Tof People accommodated at the Reception

l95xre,,miUhrtmSHLafnlfr°m the time of its °PeninS in February,
958 until the end of this year was 383, a figure which speaks for

c regarding the need for this type of accommodation.

ReJnti iT r be, stressed that PeoPle living either in the flats or the
modafion ° r6 mUS' COnstantl>' try t0 obtain alternative accom-

15, Percy Road

vear hlwT lam|ly which took up residence at this address the
io be st II noan hS accommodated there. There would appear
_C stlM no other accommodation available to house this family.

Registration of Old Persons’ Homes

regisSed6 .IT tV thC 6nd °f 1960 ,ive homes in Wallasey
I94g under 'he provisions of the National Assistance Act

Removal of Persons in need of Care and Attention
‘ction 47, National Assistance Act, 1948)

Thf6 uSr,e "° removals under this heading during the year.
111 AcconimCr 'V, women removed by Magistrate’s Orders to Part
modaM °datl0n m 1954 and 1959 actively, are still accom-

n“rial of the Dead

other ^arranein?, y?3r 9 !,1Ur1!a,s Were carried out in cases where no

completely recveL i°s U bC madf' °f these’ the costs of 3 were
rcmainingy„ne u-ifh 5 were partly recovered, and the cost of the
g one was borne entirely by the Welfare Committee.

116

Protection of Property

It is the duty of the Welfare Committee to ensure the safety

of moveable property of persons when . 1 hc >' 1 ; ® r T hTs^nta U s
hospitals if no suitable arrangements are te'ng made. Jthat d oors
notifying the Police that the house is empty, checking that ac )r
and wilfdows are secure and possibly taking mto protect, on valu¬
ables, cash or furniture.

All items except cash are stored at 1 14/ 116 Church Street
small items of value being kept m a safe. Cash is handed to
Borough Treasurer who places it in Suspense Account.

Occasionally advice is given to the relatives of mental patients
on the procedure to be adopted when applying for appointment
as Receiver of the Patient s Estate.

The Court of Protection and the Official Solicitor are notihed
of casef which may be their concern. Both these bod« are given
any assistance they require in dealing with these cases.

Recovery of Expenses from Persons liable to maintain Dependants

It has not been necessary to apply to the Petty Sessional Court
for any recovery of expenses during the year.

Entertainments and Outings

Due to the success of last year’s Outing Outina consisted of
this year’s should be on the same hues, Je Outmg comiste^ ^

veryenjoyable'tea at Little Sutton from whence the party returned

Christmas was again a haPPy^“® j^^^ecoratio^

general atmosphere of cheerful-

,1SSS M^al'christmas .and ££?.

rWtt individuals.

( 0,,,Okr pa ' le'must once again be the focal point of this section
°f ^ 'om Eights must go out

lack of hostel accommodation, are"aJO S( who prefer

sr&sra . . -

ass m ”&rss4

available to old persons g ^ome help service to the ok *
69 093 hours were devoted by the home nc t

people in the borough.

117

The members of the Wallasey Voluntary Old Peoples’ Wel¬
fare Committee and the Women’s Voluntary Service carried out
t eir usual excellent work throughout the year, but it is probable

that more relatives and individuals could render valuable assistance
to old people.

The Meals-on-Wheels Service again worked to full capacity
during the year, providing meals for those in need. 1 y

i Lhe T^and lor H?stels for old people is still tremendous
and the Welfare Committee is doing all it can to open further
Hostels in the Borough. F

Rehabilitation Work

During the year the Welfare Committee appointed as a new
venture, a Welfare Officer for Rehabilitation Work

circurnstaiK^beyorKlTheh5 clmtrol^'need aT^e^and practicaPhdp

The appointment has certainly proved itself worthwhile as the
Officer concerned has been fully occupied ever since she took ud
her duties with the Welfare Section. P

BLIND WELFARE
Registration of Blind Persons

During the twelve months ending 31st December 1960 45
people were examined by Mr. W. Dunlop Hamilton, and 1 through
the Referee Services of the North Regional Association for the
Blind, of these 20 were found to be blind.

Of the remaining 25, 12 were placed on the Observation
Register for Partially Sighted, 12 re-examined and 1 was certified

Of the 20 certified blind, blindness
age groups:—

occurred in the following

1 year
16 — 20 years
21—29 „
30—39 „
60—64 „
65—69 „
70—79 „
80—84 „

1

1

1

1

3

2

10

1

20

118

Statement re : Incidence of Blindness in Registered New Cases

Cause oj Disability

Glaucoma Cataract Others

(i) Number of cases registered

during the year for whom the

following is recommended:— 9

(a) No treatment ... . . b

(b) Treatment (Medical, _ j

Surgical, Optical) .

(ii) Number of cases registered

during the year at (u) and (b)
above, which, on follow-up

action, have received treat- x

ment .

Ophthalmia Neonatorum

(i) Total number of cases notified

during the year ... ... . .

(ii) Number of cases in which: ^

(a) Vision lost . Nil

( b ) Vision impaired ... .

(c) Treatment continuing at ^

end of year . ^ f 7 'otal

No. on Register at 1st January, ^44 252

1960 .

No. added during year:— l3 20

New Cases . . . 1 5 6

Transfers from other lowns _ _ _ _

116 162 278

Less No. of Removals from

Register owing to: — 336

Leaving Wallasey . ^ 14 27

Deaths . . . .

16 17 33

100 145 J*45

From 1st January, to 31st December, 1960. two certificated
Home Teachers were employed. Partially

D„™E ihe year 3,039 »«.« ,h« Home Teachers

5m- - » — -

72 Classes for (Xcupational Iherapy wea hel3h^UJ Jasey

« - * — •

The following crafts are taught. king* RUS

119

in 4' P"k' Wa"a“y-

Moon'to “"gh' H‘Ma- »"* *»“

Six blind people accompanied by one Home Teacher went to
Manchester in May, 1960, to take part in the Annual Braille Rea I

oL fT',t,0n or®amsed by 'he National Library for the Blind
One of the six was successful in winning a prize in the dass for
readers who have learnt Braille during the pad five years

HohS Home ' a nd^h ^ad^ wonderful firne.^*^ *° ^

Training and Employment

after one month^Sto? TlZS& fj °°g a"d

returned home the proud possessor of "8rw • th youi?S man
who escorts her nfaster^o L“ t°hV SSy “ A,Sati°n d°g

mother '/ear and 10 months, with his

ChddrM^Ab^sl^swel^Soufh

*** insSrS Se?^hWhC Wfhe^

Ihe maintenance charges were paid by the LoJal AuThSy. St3y'

BlindATm1L?ColLaaellthe R°yli National Institute for the
to London duriu! he 1? T 3 Shorthand Typist transferred
1 National 7nsUtu”# Sr th^ Blfnd ,Work at the RoyaI

and a trained telephonist has obtained

habilitadon ^^Torquav 'in 5 hWaS a.cce.pted tor Social Re-
'ndustrial Rehabilitation^ fin v arC/1’ a,n< 'ater transferred to
trainee in the Brush Matin p>'S rc urn h°me he commenced as a
shops for the Blind 8 Department at the Liverpool Work-

°f Swia|0Rd, abdhatfon to OlTh ^r- f°r 3 three months’ course
r|ved much benefit from it sin'!?’ C,ra.nS®- Bndgnorth, and de-

ab,e <0 be recommended for industry! 3 d°Ub'e S° is

-xa mined at her^rcquesUjiKhr thCarS’ Rartial,y Sighted, was re¬
organised by the Norm p d h? auspices of the Referee Services

- re,a i ne< /on* the^i Pa rt iafiy^Sigh ted^ Register.11 *>'

120

Talking Book Machines , , .

Four Talking Book Machines are distribute ior b in peop e
in their Homes for three monthly periods, and this service grea >
appreciated by all who participate.

"^^The British Wireless for the Blind generously allocated 12
new V.H.F. Bush models and 2 Transistor sets for t c i

Wallasey.

Free Travel Vouchers

Thrmmh the courtesy of the Passenger Tranport Committee,
Re JtS Blind perso^still continue to receive travel vouchers

,0 kindly

The North Wales Steamship Company allowed t

on .he Llandudno boals a reduced ra.e. All

these facilities are greatly appreciated.

VO,"n„To'“ £ Pe™> have heaeli.ed by .he
Wheds ‘ervic^ organised^by .he Women'. VolW ^
The Women’s Voluntary Service have also acted as escorts

l'ie The Voluntary Blind Welfare Committe^hoUjeekly socials

bhndTImTlasey^costtefnVsubsidised by the Local Author^
Thanks are due to aH those^untary ^gemnes^ic ^
given their services to the * twelve months, also to

memblrsT.fThe S^Club who have conveyed many people to
and from these functions.

Welfare Services for the Partially Sighted

National Assistance Act, 1948 ,

There are 58 persons on the ^IO" ma!e to PartiaUy

Partially Sighted. During the year 88 visits were

Si8hVlrs?ns°onn this Register are permit^ to attend Handicraft

Classes and Social Functions held tor the blind.

WELFARE OF HANDICAPPED PERSONS
(Other than the Blind and Partially Sighted)

November, 1960, the Minister of Hea'th ^p^roW «

amending scheme relating to the > Assistance Act.

Handicapped Persons under « under the heading of hand'- -

(Sections 29 and 3°). • » arc mentally disordered in any **>
rnPdPwhoPaTin need o/assistance under this scheme. J I

121

, P^r*nS ^.e year one Welfare Officer was employed 728

fnTnv ia/y vSLtS.Were/nade. 68 visits to social clubs and functions
(many of which have been arranged through the Welfare Depart¬
ment) 28 escorts were provided to convey handicapped persons to
hospitals and homes, and 28 Committee Meetings attended.

h^n^MC,?wTnaCher been emP]°yed’ handicraft classes have
been Held at Wallasey and Moreton, the numbers having increased

2 anK 8 t0 27,and 22 respectively. Men and women of all
. have been taught basketry, tapestry work, making of lamp
shades and sea-grass stools. The Wallasey Ambulance Service is
called upon to convey the more severely handicapped to the classes.

Plans are being made by the Council for the acquisition of

flirthefri t0 he USfd a- ? Weifare Centre for Handicapped, where
further classes and social events will be held.

enah^ihem1^11^ domestic aids are supplied to individual cases to
f «to ec0P!e rlore '"dependent, and requests have been
received for financial help over structural alterations to accommo-

Health WDd parg?r mVaI‘d tncycles suPPded by the Ministry of

Sr "a £“ ** e“8iWe pro,i!i<>" °f M“-

p«~r(oiiSSgHoSS pro,Ued ,or

Turner Memorial Home of Rest, Liverpool . 6 men

Maghull Homes for Epileptics, Lancs . 2 women

fa j r • 4 men

David Lewis Epileptic Colony, Ches . 3 women

Charles Best House for Elderly Diabetics . 1 man

British Legion Home, Norfolk . { man

Alexian Brothers’ Home, Manchester . \ man

Welfare Cbmmi«ee°nSibil*t^ h“ bee" 3CCepted in each case by the

and ?;?reJS 3 ?ee? for short term care for severely disabled people

wed vh h°^Mal Sen0US cons'deration will be given to fhts
need wh ch ,s likely to grow. Requests are received for care for

rest hapffnrtPPed Whdf Parenls have a much needed holiday and
Z 'it 1 not Z m,ad? ‘° ?ccomm°date them in hospital wards
Particular environment for the younger disabled in

Rehabilitation, Training and Employment

.by thcMintstrv ofTah^' rehabditation, and training are provided
'n variou na K of^ r a"d Nat|°nal Scrvice at centres situated

■uum Ttr Pe of fiL Their aim is to restore a maxi-

W sicknJs accidem or lonro fmployment to Pcrs°ns, who because
-onfidence in ihe?r Zn 8 .unemployment need a chance to regain
result in r ablllly t0 Set and keep a job. The courses

* 1 ter^XCment °nFbCing- P'aCP Z°pen industry ”

crut employment. Experimental rehabilitation efforts are

122

now being made at various centres, and though there are difliculues j
with persons who have been mentally ill and sutler from handicap I
such as Epilepsy, efforts to place these persons continue at all

times. . . ,

Two young Wallasey Spastics have been admitted to National
Spastics Society Training Centres and are making good progress. 1

The Wallasey Remploy Factory continues to employ its full
quota of 60 in the manufacture of industrial gloves and aprc s.

The Anne Glassey Workshop receives an annual grant from
die Welfare Committee, and has six permanent employees who
have recovered front tuberculosis. In addition they accept patients
to courses in rehabilitation; their machine-knitted goods are
excellent and are becoming well-known in the area. I

The Sir Robert Jones Workshop, Liverpool, employs one
Wallasey male e°£tic as a poster compositor, his wages being
subsidised by the Wallasey Welfare Committee.

At the 31st December, 1960, there were ten persons classified

sis 8.12!

receipt of Sickness Benefit.

Voluntary Organisations for the Handicapped

The | ivernool Adult Deaf and Dumb Benevolent Society and

residents. • he social cent c ,-entre opened at Ashviile

able for all deaf in the area an d centre openeu for

short courses for tlm Hard of Hearing at Burton Manor.

The Wallasey Spastic Ration
classes a week for the “fJ^'JuKJ’Education Com¬

mittee. ^arranged and paid for ‘a holiday for six adult spast.es

last summer. ,

The Welfare Committee assist and Weekly

organisation of the Wirra t|,e rent being met h>

social meetings are held at e ou[ings and tricycle runs were

*e LYu!,vAotn sed-tfannS Christas Dinner and Fnter-

SfL” 100 *** „,m

of the association.

123

The Meals-on-Wheels Service organised by the Women’s Vol¬
untary Service is beneficial to many handicapped homebound
persons, and their Clothing Service is frequently called upon.

The Welfare Department is represented on the following Com¬
mittees : —

The Liverpool Adult Deaf and Dumb Society.

The Catholic Deaf Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Liverpool Council of Social Service.

The Wallasey Disablement Advisory Committee
(Ministry of Labour).

The Wallasey Spastic Association.

The Wirral Invalid Tricycle Association.

Statistics of Registration

Registers of Handicapped Persons _

Deaf .

Hard of Hearing ...
General Classes ...

Under 16 yrs.

1 6 — 64 yrs.

65 y<
and c

M.

—

28

6

F.

—

25

4

M.

—

12

6

F.

—

11

4

M.

3

553

45

F.

1

202

10

4

831

75

Total

910

Included in the General Classes above are Spastics and
U pileptics over school age, i.e. : _

1 m ployed Unemployed In Homes Total

' S pasties
Males .
Females
Epileptics
Males
Females

4

3

13

7

1

7

6

2

4

5

17

37

.

COUNTY BOROUGH OF WALLASEY
EDUCATION COMMITTEE

OF THE

Principal School Medical Officer
For the Year 1960

WINSTANLEY & WATKINS LTD.

1961

11

/

STAFF

Medical Officer of Health and Principal School Medical Officer :

Dr. H. W. HALL, M B., Ch.B., D.P.H.

Deputy Medical Officer of Health and Deputy Principal School Medical Officer :

Dr. W. F. CHRISTIAN, M B., Ch.B., D.P.H.

Assistant Medical Officers of Health and School Medical Officers :

Dr. E. J. O'REILLY, M.B., Ch.B., B.A.O.

Dr. ESMIE J. GRANT, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P

Principal School Dental Officer :

Mr. C. J. LUYA, L.D.S

School Dental Officers :

Mr. W. A. HENDERSON, L.D.S.

Mr. E. G. MASON, L.D.S.

Mr. T. H. MOULDS, L.D.S.

(Part-time 11/4/60 - 3/12/60. Full-time 5/12/60).
Miss A. P. FARRELL, B.D.S. (Part-time appt. terminated 26/2/60).

Dental Attendants :

Mrs. E. M. BROWNE.

Miss P. BERGIN.

Mrs. U. BROWN. (Part-time 1/1/60 - 24/7/60. Full-time 25/7/60).
Mrs. A. HENDER. (Part-time 1/1/60 - 3/12/60. Full-time 5/12/60).
Miss J. ELLIS. (Res. 31/7/60).

Superintendent Health Visitor/School Nurse :

Mrs. K. SCHOFIELD, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V Certificate.

Health Visitors/School Nurses :

Miss E. A. TEGGINS, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Certificate. (Res. 16/12/60)
Miss A. J. EDGE, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Certificate.

Miss C. E. MURRELL, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Certificate.

Mrs. E. E. P. NOLAN, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Certificate.

Mrs. W. DOVEY, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Ceritficate.

Miss M. E. ASPINALL, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Certificate.

Miss E. M. MORGAN, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Certificate.

Miss E. WHITBURN, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Certificate.

Miss K. E. HIGGINS, S.R.N., S.C.M. (Part 1), H.V. Certificate.

Mrs. M. KEANE, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V. Certificate.

Mrs. I. D. WINTERBURN, S.R.N., S.C.M. (Part 1), H.V. Certificate.

(Full-time 1/1/60 - 2/12/60. Part-time 3/12/60).
Mrs. M. E. GALLIMORE, S.R.N., S.C.M. (Part-time).

Mrs. E. SIMPSON, S.R.N.. S.C.M. (Part 1), H.V. Certificate.

(Re-appointed 1/4/60).

Visiting Specialists :

Mr. J. D. ELLIOTT EDWARDS. M B., Ch.B., D.O.M.S.

(Ophthalmic Specialist).

Mr. H. DAVIES, M B., F.R.C.S. (Eng.), Ch.B., Ch.M. (Ortho.).

(Orthopaedic Specialist).

Dr. G. EGAN. M.D., Ch.B.. D.P.M. (Psychiatrist).

Physiotherapists :

Mr. K. JONES, M.C.S.P.

Mrs. KERR, M.C.S.P. (Appointed 1/1/60).

Speech Therapist :

Mrs. M. B. AVISON (nee SMYTH). L.C.S.T.

Educational Psychologist :

Mr. J. MAGINN. B.A. (Hons.), Dip. Education. Dip. Ed. Psychology

Social Worker :

Mrs. 11. BARRETT-LENNARD. Diploma in Social Science.

Administrative Staff :

Mr. S. D. LAWSON.

Mrs. M. FRANCE.

Mrs. P. BEVERS (Res. 31/7/60)

Mrs. B. RADCLIFFE. (Part-time 1/2/60- 31/7/60. Full-time I S 60)
Mrs. B. H. MAUNDER (Part-time).

Mrs. E. E. HILL (Appointed 19/9/60 Part-time).

HI

Town Hall,

Wallasey.

May, 1961.

To: The Chairman and Members of the Education Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have pleasure in submitting my Report on the School Health
Service for the year 1 960.

The report follows the usual pattern. Each School Medical
Officer, Principal School Dental Officer and other members of the
School Health Service have commented on the particular activities
for which they are responsible.

The general health and development of the Wallasey School
population has been maintained at a high level throughout the
year. There were no serious outbreaks of infectious disease, and
I am glad to say that Infective Hepatitis, which was prevalent in
1959, did not recur in 1960.

During the Autumn at the instigation of the Wallasey Execu¬
tive Council and Local Dental Committee, a campaign was started
to combat, by means of Health Education, the rate of decay of
the School Children’s teeth in the Borough. Interesting discussions
took place in your Committee and in the Health Committee as to
the best ways of achieving this end, and the Staff of the School
Health Service, Medical Officers, Dental Officers and School Health
Visitors have all taken part in the campaign as have many of the
teaching staff. It is indeed encouraging to read the final paragraph
of the Principal School Dental Officer’s section of the Report.

Einally, I should like to put on record my appreciation of the
support and interest in all matters relating shown by Mr. H. R. B.
WOOD, who retired from the post of Director of Education at the
end of August, and also to thank his successor, Mr. K. ROW¬
LAND, and all Members of the Education Committee for their
continued support and encouragement.

I am.

Your obedient Servant,

(Sgd.) HOWARD W. HALL,

Principal School Medical Oflicer.

IV

ANNUAL REPORT : SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE,

I960

The observations of Dr. Christian, Deputy Principal School
Medical Officer, are given below

The medical inspection of school children has continued in
the same manner as last year with Entrants examined shorty after
admission to Infants’ Schools, the Intermediate group in their first
year in the Senior Schools and Leavers shortly before leaving the

Senior Schools.

The various reasons why it is more advantageous for the lnKr-
mediate (Other) inspections to be carried out in the Senior Schools
were stated in my contribution to last year s Report.

The number of periodic inspections carried out during the
year were as follows: —

Entrants Leavers Intermediate Group

(Other)

1,741

1,247

1,624

In addition Special Inspections (which include special cases
officers at the school clinics) numbered 1,616 during the year.

• A * _

All children found at previous periodic

defects which required supervision werere-exam dbyffi

medical officers at their schools. The number seen curing
was 358.

The general condition of the pupils examined at routine

medical inspections was as follows:—

Number Percentage

Satisfactory ...
Unsatisfactory

4,586

26

99.44

.56

The ,.o Day Special School, offi

per month during the year — Elleray Park Sc™ ' by attendance
and Clare Mount School by myself. The children ,n
are examined shortly after admission and thereafter

ixanmicu suwiti; — — -

The Mental Health Act, 1959, in «>&r wttafgs th.U Sc
(1) The Local Education Authority, ^

previously* as* “Tncapable of receiving education at school o
ineducable.” to

appe^to The6 Eterof EducS' w[S P^usl'y they web-
allowed only 14 days in which to appeal. *

,(3) Parents of any such child have the right to reauest

,f^rL<l'?a d,uCau'0n Authority to rev'ew the decision at anytime

re^ew of rhH eXp,red Sin,Ce the decision- or a"y subsequent
review of the decision, was made. Local Health Authorities can

review the decision at any time. The parents have 21 days in

which to appeal to the Minister against the review decision

ground “ Lth;td C3n longe!' be deluded from school on the
ground that it is inexpedient that he should be educated in asso¬
ciation with other children” Such a child will, in future have' to

Act T944W'which prov!s!on fof Section 56 of ‘he Education

School ' H H k provislon for education otherwise than at

. rhlu „ T|he *f°Cal Aut.hority no longer have power to decide that
a child on leaving school requires statutory supervision on account

of mental subnormal, ty. It is. nevertheless, still possible for
informal supervision to be arranged for those children who are
considered to require it. Such children, with poor employment
prospects due to mental subnormality, would benefit from the

AuthorityPrOV ’ °r f° be PrOVided' by the Local HeaUh

In last year’s Report I discussed the problem of plantar warts
or veruccae, and suggested that the best way of tackling the nrob

'ZZ “ i°thenlUrC m°re f^“en " foot inspections in Sor5erP*a,

children with veruccae may be excluded from swimming and

ihe°,t,n 0WCfS 3t early staSe of 'he infection, thus reducing
ances of spread to others. To enable more frequent insDec-
t.ons to take place, the Education Committee agre“ to the

endPofntrm °f ft" additi0nal Sch°o1 Heal'h Visitor® bin. by !he
f the sear, this appointment had unfortunately not been made
due to the absence of suitable applicants. y

,rv ,A(;re!rospct;tlve enquiry was carried out during the year to

of noo lnlimUt|,the relakt,Vt ‘mPortance of the swimming bafhs and
Ot poo! plimsolls in schools as causes of infection Altogether 16?

intervSved10 U)2 T 7 the d'"'« PlantarS were
ed’ I02 gl.r s and 60 b°ys- °f these, 124 were regular

P msolls SWlm7,nS P°ols- but o^y 22 had ever used “pool

the ha Hs if , f °f 7® la“er «rouP °f children also went to

Walbs v were atHe,edr tha' lhe,main sources of plantar warts in
chil lreny- 7 h , swimming baths. Incidentally, none of the
en interviewed carried out gymnasium activities in bare feet.

Education6 Rcp°r' °uthe Chief Medical °fl|cer of the Ministry of
warts I’ induZr8 tbe yea,rs, IP58 and <959. a chapter on plantar
have shown that 'S s!dlt:d ,n tb,s chapter that experiments

betwee acouirfnn ?he'nCr ft,0n pe,ri°ud’ 0r the interval °f time
may varv f™ 78 h , lnfec ’°n and 'he development of a wan

however^ 7 r we?7 to 18 months. In the majority of cases
months or evening lhat, ,he mcubation period is between 3 to 6
on prevention rnH ng K th,apter includes with some remarks
of school 1d "dA7PhaSrithe '7Portanee of regular inspection
wimrnmff [d77 feet f1? exclusl°" of affected children from
g. showers, and barefoot activities until the condition is

VI

cured. Other precautions advised are — enquiry of the school
stafT to sec whether any members of the stall have plantar warts;
treatment of warts on sites other than the feet; disinfection of the
floors of changing rooms and shower baths.

Although the standard of nutrition of children has improved
steadily since the war years, we still come across weedy under¬
developed children who are said by their parents to be faddy with
their food. Very often these children are also nervous or highly
strung, and have been labelled as suffering from cyclical vomit-
in«T”^ Many of these cases have improved considerably from the
courses of ultra violet light treatment which are held at the school
clinics. Other cases which have benefited considerably are those
with upper respiratory catarrh, bronchitis and general debility.

The work of medically examining children for their fitness to
undertake employment out of school hours has continued. I hese
examinations only very rarely bring to light conditions ; which
might be aggravated by employment. The same can be said of the
examinations of children who wish to take part in pu
tainments, etc. The numbers examined in 1960 will be found on

Page xxi of the Report.

Minor Ailments — Consultation Clinics

Minor Ailments Clinics are held at each of the School clinics
as follows: —

Merton Road Clinic — Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
mornings.

Water Street Clinic — Monday, Wednesday and Friday
mornings.

Moreton Clinic — Monday to Friday mornings.

Dr. O’Reilly is in attendance at Water Street C linic each Mon¬
day morning.

Dr. Grant is in attendance at the Moreton Clinic each Tuesday
morning and I am in attendance at Merton Road Clinic e
Tuesday morning. At these doctors' sessions, medical and psycho
logical* problems^ as distinct from minor ailments, can be i mvesti-
.. ned and appropriate advice or treatment given. Children tou
fo need tremment for ocular or orthopaedic defects are referred to
the Snecialist Climcs held each week at the Merton Road o
Moreton Clinics. At the latter clinics, children are only sec >

appointment.

Immunisation

Immunisation Clinics nre held .1 Merton Road Clinic on M

of school children immunised during the year, bi . ^

by private practitioners.

vu

B.C.G. Vaccination

Vaccination of Contacts — In accordance with the Ministry
ol Health Circular No. 72/49. the vaccination of contacts of cases
of tuberculosis is carried out by the medical staff of the Chest
Clinic, Mill Lane. Two children developed Tuberculous Pleurisy
during the year. All staff and pupils at the school involved were
X-rayed but no case of Tuberculosis came to light. The school
was thus exonerated as the source of infection.

\ accination of School Children — In accordance with Ministry
of Health Circular No. 22/53, as amended by Circular 7/59, the
parents of children who are 13 years of age or older were asked
to consent to vaccination of their children at school. The number
of children tested for suitability for vaccination and the number
actually vaccinated are given in the Table on page xx.

Ophthalmic Clinics

These clinics continue to carry out invaluable work in correct¬
ing visual defects in pre-school and school children. As will be
<een from the Table on page xxix, 1,289 children were found to
have errors of refraction during the year, while spectacles were
prescribed for 832 children. Family doctors are informed when

their patients are examined by the Visiting Specialist, Mr Elliott
Fdwards.

Observations of Dr. O’Reilly, School Medical Officer:—

The picture of the health of the school children of the
Borough is similar to that of the rest of the country, or perhaps a
ittle better. One of the problems which has been cropping up
most often recently is nocturnal enuresis, and it seems actually to
be increasing. That impression, however, may be due to the
gradual decrease or disappearance of some of the problems of the
past. There is still no satisfactory treatment of the condition,
though various methods are being constantly tried.

The overweight boy and girl, who we read about in the dailv
press, are also to be found in Wallasey, though not as abundantly
as elsewhere, if we may judge by the reports of other local authori¬
ties. Luckily the remedy is definite and within the reach of all

The audiometric survey has not been very satisfactory this
year, as the present gramophone type of instrument is getting old

U!1,r.e Ia^c- We are expecting that a modern pure tone sweep
test audiometer will soon be available.

f . E,,eray Park Special School has produced the usual satis-
ilitt| ()Iu resULS* Among the gratifying cases of improvement was a
' "t ^ho, ,was sent to the school because he suffered from

^h^i tV and failed to make any Progress in his previous
,<#r 1 ,n. a y63^ we were told, he had become bigger and

, kcr than his elder brother who was regarded as average. He

.nJ°WuretUrned an onJ'nary school and should be well able to
^ with any future vicissitudes.

Three other mothers have reported to the staff, in the last
twelve months, that their boys in Elleray Park had progressed
more rapidly than their brothers in ordinary schools. They specific¬
ally included scholastic as well as physical progress.

Another case, not untypical, is a spastic child who, a couple
of years ago, was unable even to stand. He was moved around
in a wheel chair and had to be carried upstairs Now he can
climb the stairs unaided. A tribute is due to the physiotherapists,
whose devoted work is responsible for this victory.

The happy atmosphere of the school probably contributes
largely to the excellent results. The children who are fit enough
help those less fortunate, often just for encouragement. It is quite
remarkable how genuinely p!eased the others are when for
instance, a crippled child negotiates the difficult stairs for the first
time This is the antithesis of the usual behaviour of children
who are commonly so cruel to the one with a stammer or a limp.
The kindly and thoughtful attitude of the staff towards then-
charges is. of course, responsible for this admirable situation.

It is unfortunate that some prejudice exists against this school.
Some parents think that there is a stigma attached to .11 health
especially if it necessitates special schooling. Even some doct° ■
advise parents against it. One doctor gave as jm > reason .that all
children should be treated as normally as possible. Actually t
children in Elleray Park are treated just like that The atm is t
stretch them as fully as possible, having regard the limited
capacity of each individual, academic and physical. This Phonal
attention is of course, of supreme importance ,n activities such a

swimming and games. In the matter of nm

the supervision should be the closest possible, the physiotherapist

coes into the water with the children.

Some narents fear that attendance at a special school will
antagonise possible employers, but. for those who spend OT^y a

small nart of their school life at such an institution, the matte
cTnnot arise very often. For those who spend the.. • whote school
rfr* tVif^rp Qiirh as bad asthma and heart cases, the finding o
bV caree fby he HeaZaster is almost invariably successful,
and it shows that the good work done by the school does not end
when the children reach leaving age.

We are looking forward to the new school buildings which
should be a worthy setting for the excellent work being

Remarks of Dr. Grant, School Medical Officer:

*££ sms sr * "t « 5

STcS Sf o£' o< si :

confirms that the health of children ot school age •»<* . of ,

IX

of handicapped children, and that the School Health Service has
made its own distinct contribution to the improving health of the
nation. In addition, every effort is being made by all Local Health
Authorities to diagnose defective hearing in children at as early an
age as possible, and to provide them with training and education
at a time when they can most benefit. To this end, our Health
Visitors have been given special demonstrations of the methods
used to detect any impairment of hearing in the very young child,
and if they find any such cases they refer them without delay, to
the clinic doctor.

The prevention of mental ill-health in children is becoming
more and more important, and it is, unfortunately, not uncommon
to see one or two maladjusted children every week at the School
Minor Ailment Clinics. Valuable help with these children is given
bv Dr. Egan and his team at the Child Guidance Clinic, but I
think it is a significant sign of the times that so many children of
school age require psychiatric treatment and cannot be controlled
or disciplined by their parents.

Medical inspection of the girl leavers, usually at the age of 15,
reveals the undue importance that is laid on fashions and cos¬
metics The modern teenage schoolgirl is far too eager and impa¬
tient to exchange the sensible neat school uniform for the unsuit¬
able, exaggerated garments that are so popular today. Frequently,
at the medical inspection of this age group, one sees the remains
of hastily removed nail varnish and lipstick, and even, on one
occasion, when remarking on a case of inflamed eyelids, I was
informed by the parent that it was due to the fact that the girl
‘ made up ” her eyes every week-end— and this statement, was
made as though it were quite a natural and harmless pursuit!

Perhaps the worst feature of this desire to imitate her elders
is the untold harm that is done by the wearing of fashionable
shoes casuals were bad enough, but now we see the even worse
evil of the pointed court shoe with stiletto heels. Mothers do not
seem able, or even anxious, to prevent this harmful custom— the
reply usually given is that you can’t blame the girl for wanting to
wear what she sees all the others wearing; a few admit that they
try, unsuccessfully, to persuade their daughters to buy or wear
suitable shoes, but they have given up the uneven struggle. Because
of this ever-growing custom, feet are fast becoming deformed, and
made unsightly by corns, hammer-toes, hallux valgus and hardened
blisters on the heels.

d he headmistresses in some schools very wisely insist on
certain types of shoes being banned during school hours, but this is
'not really enough to solve the problem — the manufacturers and
'the fashion experts are really to blame.

Apart from bad feet, the other most commonly encountered
condition amongst children of all ages is chronic upper respiratory
catarrh with its unpleasant sequelae of mouth breathing, impaired
nearing, tonsillitis and chronic bronchitis. We can only hope that
the leaner air which we should shortly be breathine will, to some

X

extent anyway, lead to an improvement in this damaging com¬
plaint. Removal of tonsils and adenoids when recommended by
the Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon does help considerably, and for
less severe cases, deep breathing exercises, a course of artificial
sunlight, vitamins and the use of decongestive nose drops are
prescribed and give welcome relief.

Cleanliness of head, body and clothes has now reached a rela¬
tively high standard and I think that the School Health Service has
done a lot to bring this about. Education was required as well as
the improvement of social and economic conditions and 1 think the
Health Visitors are to be congratulated on their hard campaign
in this field — there will always be a few black sheep in every
fold but this is inevitable even in the most perfect of Welfare
States.

Sleep is still a vexed problem, and few parents seem to man¬
age to get their children to bed at a reasonable hour. There are
of course, far too many diversions these days, of which T.V. is
naturally the most obvious.

Another problem in this era of liberal pocket money and
higher standards of living is the obese child, especially of the
female sex. It is difficult to persuade a growing child with a
healthy appetite that too many sweets, chocolates, biscuits, cakes,
bread and potatoes are the cause of her increasing adiposity, and
that she should restrict these articles of food in her diet they all
seem to think they will lose these unwanted pounds as they get
older but such, unfortunately, is not always the case.

Generally speaking. I think the School Health Service still
has its part to play in the National Health Service, attending as it
does to the positive mental and physical health of the younger
members of the community. Without our team of medical officers,
health visitors, physiotherapists, speech therapists ophthalmologists
and Child Guidance experts there would probably be a far larger
number of sick patients filling the surgeries of the National Health

Service practitioners.

1 should like to take this opportunity, once again, of thanking
the headmistresses of the schools I visit, for their hospitality and.
in most cases, for their sincere desire to give us the best accom
modation that is available, however inconvenient our presence. W
know we are not always welcome, but we do our best to ca
our statutory duties with as little interference as possible in tne

school curriculum.

Report of Mr. II. Davies, Consulting Orthopaedic Surgeon «n

the work of the Orthopaedic School Clinics at Wallasey
Moreton in 1960.

The pattern of the Orthopaedic work done at the Wallasey .

XI

and Moreton clinics during 1960 seems to have taken the form of
remedying the acquired deformities of childhood. Congenital de¬
formities and affections of bones and joints have been pleasingly
rare, and the incidence of rickets, with which I was concerned last
year, has also been low. There has also been a remarkable steady
decline in the number of new cases of cerebral palsy, and another
encouraging sign in the general good health of the children is that
tuberculosis of the bones and joints has remained at its previous
low level.

I feel much routine work on the part of the physiotherapists
could be both avoided and helped by a more fervent and intelli¬
gent co-operation on the part of parents in the choice of shoes for
their children, in regular attendances at the clinic for physio¬
therapy, and in encouraging their children to keep up their exer¬
cises daily at home. Shoes giving firm support are very necessary
for growing children if we are to avoid the constant high totals of
knock knees and flat feet which only lead on to the more serious
foot problems of adult life. Wellingtons and pumps are not good
when used as normal footwear and teachers and parents should
encourage the children in their care to change into flat heeled lace
up shoes at every opportunity.

I should like to thank the physiotherapists and auxiliary staff
at these clinics for their unceasing help and co-operation, without

which my own work could not be effective.

PHYSIOTHERAPY REPORT, 1960

Total Cases on Register: . 3,062

Total Attendances: . 8,467

New Cases on Register: . 427

No. of Orthopaedic cases of school age treated: 1,402

No. of Orthopaedic Abnormalities treated at

School: . 22

New Orthopaedic Cases of School Age: . 190

Orthopaedic Cases of School Age discharged: ... 133

Artificial Sunlight Report

New Cases: . 122

No. of Cases on Register: . 157

Discharged (Cured): . 15

Discharged (Improved): . 20

Discharged (No Change): . —

Left School: . 3

Defaulters (and removed from Register): . 60

XII

The following observations are submitted by Mr. K. Jones,

Physiotherapist: —

It is a coincidence that the number of defaulters in U.V.R.
attendances is almost exactly the same as last year, despite a de¬
plorable summer. Whereas one has inferred previously that
parents consider a good summer an alternative to treatment, one
is left this year with the suspicion that defaulting is due to slack¬
ness on the part of parents. (One also recalls the particular case
of the parent who was dissuaded by the family doctor from attend¬
ing as “ artificial sunlight is old-fashioned ” ! )

It seems a pity that it is not more widely appreciated amongst
Consultants and Family Doctors that in this area specialised treat¬
ment is given to cerebral palsy patients. The belief is common
that little can be done for these children, and that treatment at
Local Authority Clinics is semi-skilled in any case. (One is re¬
minded of the consultant who persuaded a mother that she didn’t
need to bring her child for treatment as there was no supervision
at the Clinics). I consider the enlightened approach with which
this serious problem is addressed at the local clinics a cause for
some satisfaction. There can be little disputing the fact that
Bobath principles (based as they are on sound physiological and
neurological research) offer the best hope of progress for “spastics”,
and as far as one is aware, these methods are not widely known
or practised in this area. It is difficult to suggest what form
propaganda on this matter could take, but it is evident that some
sort is needed. It is worth stressing again that treatment should
commence as early as possible (6 — 12 months) in order that right¬
ing reflexes and equilibrium reactions, which may have established
themselves in the baby, are not lost through the assumption of
unsuitable postures, (premature sitting and standing, for instance).
Frequency (as opposed to regularity) of treatment is not impor¬
tant. Mrs. Bobath recommends twice weekly treatments for strictly
half hour intervals. At the Wallasey Local Authority Clinics
parents of these distressingly handicapped children may be assured
that the best modern treatment is available.

XI 11

Remedial

Excercises

No.Trts.

235

412

264

i

221

r-H

ON

co

393

vO

co

^■H

293

301

F— H

co

co

240

3,270

£

<u

in

23

NO

o

00

VO

1

r-H

14

28

r-H

in

vO

r-H

Asthma

i

No.Trts.

52

50

47

42

75

80

32

1

52

80

00

vO

8£

616

New

50 1

i

rH

i

i

r— H

i

1

f— H

F 1 <

-

i

vO

Breathing Exs.
for post-operative
Tonsillectomy and

ciiuiucciunij

No. Trts.

co

O

89

09

o

f-h

vO

O

•— i

■

1

39

CN

62

35

771

1 1U

New

r~4

O

co

27

00

vO

co

38

i

1

CN

r— H

CN

CN

CN

250

Artificial

Sunlight

Clinic

No.Trts.

583

CN

r-H

m

326

313

496

289

CN

o

1

341

378

373

397

o

i— <

On

CO

New

24

CN

r— H

o

NO

i

1

1

co

vO

r— H

24

CO

CN

CN

r-H

ting Orthopaedic
lrgeon’s Clinic

Disch.

^H

in

r1 H

30

in

CN

r-H

o

^H

r>*

vO

r-H

m

o

F— H

153

Total

Atts.

in

in

98

rr

co

On

O

r-H

rr

o

65

On

in

oo

in

90

99

!

00

00

985

i

•H ^

.23^

>

t a

O 4

Tj*

f H

26

oo

CN

-

On

r-H

o

co

r ^

6Z

ON
* ■ <

oo

CN

22

CO

in

CN

January

February

March

April

May . .

June. .

3

August

September . .

October

November . .

December . .

TOTALS..

XIV

REPORT of Mr. HORACE DAVIES, Orthopaedic Surgeon

Number of Sessions held at the Authority’s Clinics . . 45

Number of New Cases . . . . . . • • • • 308

Number of Re-examinations . . . . . . • • 746

Number of Cases discharged cured . . • 175

Disease Categories

New Cases

Re-exam

inations

Discharged

Pre-Sch

Age

School

Age

Pre-Sch

Age

School

Age

0

H

3

T)

V

>

u

a

9

X

&

w

c

h

hK

M. F.

M. F.

M. F.

M. F. j

Congenital

Deformi¬

ties

Trunk

Upper Limb

Lower Limb . .

1 2

1 1

1 —
7 l|

— 1

— 1

2 4

1 2

2 2

2 2

1

1

—

—

Acquired

Deformi¬

ties

j

Flat Foot

Hallux Valgus

Postural Kyphosis
and Scoliosis

Knock Knee

Bow Leg

Other Conditions

9 2 1

_ _ 1
- 1

34 29

0

At

6 2

51 82

5 !

1 8
12 4 ;

1 — I
12 18

16 11

64 53
— 3

6 6

162 154

4 13

7 15

40 36

2 1
47 46

80

2

3

45

1

29

1

—

■ 1 •

- ■ •

Affections

of

Skeleton

Rickets

Other Conditions

zz

1 —

- -

—

—

— .

Affections

ofNervous

System

Spastic Paralysis
Infantile Paralysis . .
l Peripheral
\ Nerve Lesions
Other Conditions

2 1

_ _

1 —

7 3

5 6

1 —

1

_

—

- -

— — .

Affections
of Bones

Osteomyelitis T.B. . .
Other Conditions

— —

— —

— —

2 2

—

1

—

Affections
of Joints

T.B .

Non-T.B.

- -

1 -

1 — —

— —

—

—

—

Affections
of Spine

T.B .

Non-T.B.

— —

i — —

- 2

i _ ~~

— —

I “

_

—

Affections

of

Epiphysis

1

2 —

1 1

i 2

1

—

Affections
of soft
tissues

)

1

.1. ■ ■ —

1 1

j -

>

1 _

,

-

—

Complica¬
tions of
Trauma

— 3

i

2 7

4

—

Cases
referred to
Clinic and
found
normal

3 5

| _ _

|

7

—

XV

Dr. G. Egan, Consultant Psychiatrist, submits the following
observations on the work of the Child Guidance Clinic: —

As Mr. Maginn has pointed out, the referral rate this year
has increased by a considerable margin. For the clinic staff this
has been gratifying. We have always felt that the low referral
rate to the clinic merely meant that a number of schoolchildren
in the Borough needing Child Guidance service were not having
it because they were not being referred to us. Even this year’s
figure of 86 is a remarkably low one. A borough like Wallasey
with a riverside population approaching urban slum conditions
must inevitably have a high maladjustment rate amongst its school-
children. The Underwood Report indicates that in rural areas of
England, where one would expect a high degree of stability, there
is a maladjustment rate of between 5 and 10% in the schoolchild
population. The referral rate to Wallasey Child Guidance Clinic
is still under 1% of the school population.

We hope, therefore, that the increase for the year 1960 marks
the beginning of a phase of greater awareness of the need for
psychiatric attention for disturbed schoolchildren. We appreciate
that there is a limit to the case load with which we can cope in
our present premises, and with our present staff, but when the
demand for our service reaches a truer and more realistic level
there will be grounds for expanding the existing facilities.

In last year’s report attention was drawn to the drop in the
number of delinquent children referred to the clinic. This year’s
figures show that, as 1 anticipated, this was merely a freak occur¬
rence, and the delinquency rate has again risen.

Mr. J. Maggin, Educational Psychologist, submits the follow¬
ing remarks on the Work of the Schools’ Psychological Service,
I960: —

The increase in the number of new cases during the year is a
pleasing indication that more of the behaviour disorders are being
referred for specialist advice. The caseload has been dealt with
successfully within our resources. The analysis of the sources of
referral again gives preponderance to Head Teachers and the
' School Medical Officers. A small number were referred by parents
an(1 four out of the total number of 86 by other agencies.

XVI

An analysis of the work of the clinic is made below.- -

Cases referred.

Current cases. January 1st, I960 . 29

4

To be reviewed .

New Cases, 1960 . ^

119

The new cases were referred from the following sources
through either the Director of Education or the Principal School

Medical Officer:

. 50

Head Teachers . ^

Deputy and Assistant S.M.O .

Parent .

Probation Officer .

Family Doctor .

Children’s Officer . __

86

The disposal of cases dealt with during the year falls under
the following headings:

81

Cases closed: . ^

Improved .

Report only . ' ,25

Advice only .

School transfer . j

Clare Mount . l

Residential School . j

In-patient Hospital Treatment . 1

Failed to co-operate . f

Failed to respond to treatment . 7

To be reviewed . 31

Current cases .

119

XVII

The diagnoses of cases referred
below:

during 1960 are classified

Delinquent tendencies

Emotional immaturity .

Emotional instability .

Habit disorders .

Tension habits .

Behaviour disorders .

Truancy and non-attendance
Withdrawal symptoms
Phobic and anxiety states

Psychosomatic conditions .

Lethargy and underfunctioning

12

3
1
7

4
33

6

1

5
2

12

86

The work of the psychiatrist, psychologist and social worker
is set out in the following tables:

Psychiatrist:

Diagnostic interviews
Treatment interviews

273

86

187

Psychologist:

Test interviews .

Parent interviews .

Remedial Treatment interviews
School visits and reports .

87

39

72

124

322

Social Worker:

School Welfare

Clinic

Cases

Cases

669

582

Home visits ...
Clinic interviews

xvm

School inquiries . 57

Consultation with other agencies 88

350

373

739

2363

In addition to these activities in connection with families of
both current and closed Child Guidance cases and the Welfare
work, the Social Worker, Mrs. Barrett-Lennard, has given time
to other aspects of social relationships. These include Merseyside
Marriage Guidance Council meetings, talks to Young Wives’
Groups, Youth Organisations and P.T.A. meetings, and attendance
at professional meetings.

There has been no important change in the work of the Edu¬
cational Clinic, which includes educational advice, individual
remedial coaching, and classification for secondary schools. Miss
Pilkington has continued to take remedial reading groups both at
Church Street and in Barnston Lane School, the facilities for which
have been kindly provided by the Head Teacher, Mr. Macklin.

Observations of Mrs. M. Avison, Speech Therapist: —

The terminology in The Speech Therapy Statistics requires
explanation, and the following description of the terms may clarify
the position.

The following terms are employed in the description of dis¬
orders of voice, articulation, language and speech. The conditions
described may be developmental or acquired.

Aphonia and Dysphonia concern disorders of voice. I he
former implies absence of voice while Dysphonia is impairment of
voice.

Defects of articulation are most frequent in children. Alalia
infers absence of articulation and language and Dyslalia describes
defects of articulation or slow development of articulatory patterns
including substitutions, distortions, omissions and transpositions of
the sounds of speech.

Dysenea is an articulatory defect arising from defective hear¬
ing. Anarthria and Dysarthria both apply to disorders of articu¬
lation caused by neuro-muscular conditions, affecting muscle tone,
and the action of the muscles used in articulation.

XIX

Sigmatism denotes defective articulation of “s” and “z”, while
Rhotacism refers to a defective “r”.

The most common disorder of fluency is Stammering. This
defect may be described as speech characterised by interruptions
of its fluency by the repetition of sounds, syllables or phrases, and
blocks, overt or disguised, often accompanied by concomitant
movements and disruption of normal breathing rhythm. There
may be avoidance reactions either of words or speech situations.

SPEECH THERAPY STATISTICS, 1960

Total number of attendances . 1,723

Number of patients receiving regular treatment

during the year . 101

Number of patients receiving treatment at inter¬
vals during the year . 121

Number of patients admitted . 50

Number of patients discharged . 59

Classification of Patients Admitted :

Dyslalia (defect of articulation) . 26

Stammer . 14

Interdental Sigmatism (defective articulation of “s”

and “z”) . 1

Lateral Sigmatism (defective articulation of “s” and

“z”) . 4

Rhotacism (defective articulation of “r”) . 1

Cleft Palate . 1

Dysenea (articulatory defect caused by defective

hearing) . 3

ft 50

Classification of Patients Discharged :

Cured . 39

Unco-operative . 6

Left School . 7

Left District . 4

Attending School out of District . 3

59

XX

Classification of Waiting List :

Not yet interviewed . 15

Interviewed and placed on Supervision . 35

Interviewed and awaiting regular appointment . 20

70

MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS OR INTENDING
TEACHERS.— Min. of Education Circ. 249 of 1952

Total Number Examined

Teachers

Intending Teachers

Male . 4

Male . 12

Female . 6

Female . 48

Total . 10

Total . 60

—

—

IMMUNISATION

Diphtheria

Schoolchildren given: Primary Immunisation .

Reinforcing injections .

Total ...

197

1,200

1,397

Poliomyelitis

Age Range: Born between 1945-1955 —

Received Primary Immunisation .

Received Reinforcing Injections .

Total ...

Tuberculosis

Schoolchildren tested for suitability for vaccination

(Mantoux test) .

Schoolchildren Mantoux positive and not vaccinated
Schoolchildren Mantoux negative and suitable for

vaccination .

Schoolchildren vaccinated with B.C.G. vaccine .

XXI

EXAMINATIONS OF CHILDREN FOR EMPLOYMENT,
ENTERTAINMENT, HOLIDAYS ABROAD, ETC.

Employment . 250

Entertainment . 20

Holidays Abroad, etc . 46

316

SUMMARY OF THE WORK CARRIED OUT BY THE
SCHOOL HEALTH VISITORS DURING THE YEAR 1960

Health Surveys and Infestation with Vermin

Health Surveys . 101

No. of Clinic Sessions re Cleansing . 46

No. of Examinations . 27,683

No. of individual children found unclean . 509

Home Visits

Cleanliness . 262

Medical Treatment . 532

Hospital References . 16

Miscellaneous . 180

B.C.G . 1

Ineffective visits, i.e. No Access . 66

Other

Visits to Nursery Class . 14

Visits to Special Schools . 6

Sessions for Medical Inspections . 312

Sessions at Minor Ailment Clinics . 542

Sessions at Ophthalmic Clinics . 98

Sessions at Vision Testing of 8 year old pupils . 47

Sessions on Weighing and Measuring

(Medical Inspection) 78

Sessions spent on Surveys . 262

TOTAL VISITS ... 1,299

TOTAL SESSIONS ... 1,502

XXII

ELLERAY PARK OPEN-AIR SCHOOL

During the year 18 children were admitted, the classification
of their defects or diseases being as follows:-

General Debility .

Spastic Paralysis . 2

Bronchiectasis .

Congenital Heart Lesion .

T.B. Kidney . 1

Chorea . ^

Gauchers Disease .

Club Feet . ^

Rheumatic Heart . ^

Osteomyelitis .

Asthma .

Epilepsy .

18

During the year 1 1 pupils were found suitable for transfer to
ordinary schools, 4 left at 16 years of age, 1 was transferred to
Derwen Cripples’ Training College, Oswestry, Wales, I was ad¬
mitted to a residential school for the physically handicapped, and
3 left for other reasons.

SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
Mr. Luya, Principal School Dental Officer, makes the following
observations: —

The problems dealt with by those concerned with the rare of
children’s teeth do not vary much year by year save inemphasts.
but 1960 will be remembered as the year when, lor the hrs
in six vears. the full complement of four full-time officers becam
available Of the four full-time dentists on the staff, one re^gn
n 1954 andas there is a shortage of

dentists particularly, it was found impossible o fill the vaoint p

exCent bv a series of dentists who were willing to work in
clinics part time only. This is not satisfactory as, however sk lfui
and conscientious a dentist may be. if he eventually |

leave the public service for pnvate practice *?elrn the routine and ,
more than that, a new man requires time to earn tl <- |

techniques of the public service, and parents and children"^
lime to become used to each new dentist, and every^change^J

-r erjsss - H

a

X X 1 1 1

has been Tost” \ s'-,od deal of ground

ss iiw! iras t

».s strijjfiSHsr2""*

s Sir E-

iScS=*S

Children are referred for treatment of/m^ ^lr ?VTn aPP°^ntments.
parenteS write call nr nh c t nt a^.er a schooI dental inspection

:r s r1

r “ -ffSJfK

monthly, depending on the ,.nn,rt ntCrVf ™ay be Yearly or six-

children get The very best out of theTh °fi S® m,°Uth’ and these

Dentists, of course welcome thli S,t°01 Dental Serv|ce; School
too manv of this type of natient Wl iV)pen a™s and cannot get
making parents undemand ,f Thefe 15 stl11 a difficulty in

which children neS and unts IZ'HtH* tfT™ ^ a de"tist

ting a poor mouth in order ran u ^ tlme sPent in put-

far ,ooP many parents who^lC d5ffi,vS 2?T "*

Toothache, and the decay which lendc rn • ,
extent preventable, and a National OralH™' ' 1S ? a ,arSe
and educate parents was started h! n can'Pa|ga fo try

at their Annual General Meeting io<;nPrAtlsb ^entaf Association
in Wallasey, the Princinal rV'mJi'rif/t parf dle campaign
(unity to sneak in n,?h P ? ' ?fficer ,s taking every oppoV
to chddren in school after mo sllbJect u A series of short mlks
youth Clubs Parent-Te.rtJ * T!?8 ?ss.emb,y has been started, and
are addressed when the onoo'rtiinb’v 1 'atlons and other organisations

•hat there is a feeling of desoair when^tf"'5' ' must be admitted
Paigns are considered S a hen l,he lmmense publicity cam-

Pounds to p^rsuadffifchtdren tT of tho ^ands of

puffed with decay-causing sweets- i? .th.e,r mouths permanently
F V- screen, the cinema V-reeTn h ? y nf.cessary to study the
Press, to realise how nowerfnl thif b hoard|ngs and the public
'herc arc signs sZtThmJ pressure ,s °n 'he other hand

^ginning to take notice of IheZ/"18' <h,at parents are a' last
sweet eating; also the nreiudi™ dama^i done by indiscriminate
'growing lest. Prejudice against fillings is showing signs of

XXIV

The distribution of the dental clinics in Wallasey is shortly to
be altered. At present there is one surgery in Water Street, two in
Thornville, Liscard Village, one in Merton Road, Liscard, and one
in Oakenholt Road, Moreton, Thornville, an old house into which
two surgeries were hurriedly transferred when the Church Street
Clinic was destroyed by bombs in 1941 is to be demolished and a
new clinic with a single surgery is to be opened on the Leasowe
Estate. This will reduce the number of surgeries from five to four,
but as there are only four dentists, one surgery has been used part
time only and this will cause little difference; there will still be one
surgery in Liscard, and a surgery has been needed for some time to
serve the new housing estates in Leasowe. Thornville has the virtue
of being in a central situation and a sunny position, otherwise it is
most unsuitable for a dental clinic and almost impossible to keep
clean.

Consideration will have to be given shortly to replacing some
of the dental equipment at all surgeries. Dental equipment wears
out, becomes technically obsolete and new designs come into
general use; some of the equipment is old and out of date, and
parents are not encouraged to bring their children to dentists using
shabby and out of date equipment. The evacuation of Thom-
ville ” and the scrapping of one surgery will, it is hoped, give an
opportunity for some refurnishing; the time has now come when
at least one of the new high-speed turbine dolls should be installed

in at least one clinic.

On the whole, the year might be said to have ended on a note
of restrained optimism, a new clinic in the offing, a full staff more
interest shown by parents, and the possibility of fluoridation of
water in the future to help make teeth more resistant to decay.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Observations of Mr. Clare, Organiser of Physical Education:—

Mention has been made in previous reports of the trend of
Physical Education to move away from remedial gymnastics ana
towards more recreational activities. Present circumstances dictate
that corrective and remedial work is incidental only n the sc"<»
Physical Education curriculum. The part of even the spec ah*
teacher in such work is now limited to the fos.teri^ ofnc'“"1,nand
and hygiene, of normal mobility, strength and good posture, a
to the detection of physical irregularities which can be referral
the School Medical Officer for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Concern during the year with regard to the incidence of foot
infections has caused the banning of barefoot wor .
borrowing of plimsolls. When the results of these measures

be assessed it may possibly be evident that " V^and ankl"
from these causes is less important than loss of foot and a
mobility originating from the restrictions imposed.

Work in Physical Education has proceeded normally d»nns
the year. Modern ideas in methods of teaching and m conten.^
the work are becoming more generally accepted. It

XXV

that all work in Primary Schools is carried out by non-specialist

teachers, and that many such teachers would welcome a basic

syllabus which they could follow and, so far as they may be able,
improve upon.

Results of work in Physical Education are not readily assess¬
able by the layman. They may perhaps be reflected in the organised
sports events which take place. In athletics, 9 Wallasey children
were selected for special coaching which was given at a residential
course. 1 he Wallasey team performed creditably in the County
Championships and representatives competed at the National Meet¬
ing. As a Charter Year event the Primary Schools held a most
successful Athletics Meeting for both girls and boys.

In Swimming the Wallasey team again won the County Cham¬
pionships. Interest was maintained and the standard of perform¬
ance in Life Saving improved during the year. A course in the
teaching of Swimming was held in April, and was attended by 38
Wallasey teachers. The provision of instructional pools on school
premises would permit these teachers to do even more effective

work and help enormously to achieve the aim of teaching everv
child to swim. °

As reported last year the School Sports Associations are not
all receiving the full and active support of all schools, though the
provision of more facilities, particularly of playing fields adjacent
to schools, is likely to ease the situation.

Publication of the Albemarle and Wolfenden Reports during

the year has focussed public attention on the need for sports facili-

t'es for schoolchildren and young people, and their recommenda-
tions are welcomed.

In Wallasey, some improvement in facilities can be reported.

especially the playing fields constructed during 1960 at Lingham

Primary and Clare Mount E.S.N. Schools, which will be ready

or use m 1961. Tennis courts have now been provided at the

echnical Grammar School, and work will shortly be commenced

Pdymg fields and tennis courts for the Moreton Secondary
acnools. It ic q matter _ -

c,.r . T . . lllc Murcion secondar

r*0?* " ,S a matter for ^et that construction of school play-
*"?**»“ not have kept pace with the erection of new
77 bu,,dings- APar< from the intrinsic value of such fields they

ktd’IT'f ■ ", ?.'T p,e“r' ■»»« 1. ^

[ , , p a>,ng pL,cls for future new schools will be ready for
y the date the schools are opened.

XXVI

SCHOOL MEALS SERVICE, I960
Observations of Miss A. Collins, Organiser of School Meals:

The meals census taken on a day in October, I960, showed
that 6,674 children had school meals on that day, an increase of
534 on the previous year. 826 of these meals were provided free
of charge to necessitous children.

During the school holidays meals supplied from a central
kitchen continued to be served at seven centres in the Borough.

As a result of the continuing expansion and adaptation of
the Wallasey Technical College buildings, it became necessary in
July to close the Withens Lane Central Kitchen. A number o
other kitchens in the Borough with surplus capacity took over the
preparation of meals which had up to that time been the respon¬
sibility of the Withens Lane Kitchen and the kitchen staff were

absorbed in other kitchens.

Improvements in equipment are continuously being made at
the older kitchens, including the replacement of hot cupboards
boiling pans and sink units in stainless steel. The wenng o
preparation tables with a laminated plastic is a greatly improved

surface from the hygiene aspect.

As part of the general replacement of benches and folding
tables which have been in use for so many years, the dining room
at Wallasey Grammar School has been re-furn.shed with chairs

and wooden refectory tables.

XXV11

MEDICAL INSPECTION.

maintained primary and SECONDARY

SCHOOLS

PART I— MEDICAL INSPECTION OF PUPH S A t*tt« xm r vr/-*
MAINTAINED AND ASSISTED PRIMARY^ AND SEOWRARv
SCHOOLS (INCLUDING NURSERY AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS)

table a.— periodic medical inspections

Number of pupils on registers

^ ‘ . 16,271

Age Groups
Inspected
(By year of birth)

No. of

Physical Condition

of Pupils Inspected

( Pupils

1 Inspected

Satisfactory
- - - 1 - - - -

Unsatisfactory

(1)

No.

% of Col. 2

No.

% of Col. 2

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

1956 and later

1955

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945 and earlier

30

415

1,180

116

37

18

31

456

770

312

499

748

30

415

1,175

114

37

17

29

454

768

312

494

741

100

100

99.58

98.3
100

94.4
93.55

99.6

99.7
100

99

99.07

5

2

7

2

2

2

5

7

.42

1.7

5.6

6.45

.4

.3

1.00

.93

total

4,612

4,586

99.44

_ 26

.56

table b-pupils found to require treatment at
( 1 A- PERIODIC medical inspections

(excluding Dental Diseases and Infestation with Vermin)

Age Groups
Inspected
(By year of birth)

(1)

1956 and later
1955
1954
1953
1952
1951
1950
1949
1948
1947
1946

1945 and earlier

For defective
vision

(excluding squint)

(2)

1

25

79
9
4

4
71
124
55
93
173

For any of the
other conditions
recorded in Part II

(3)

19

124

451

46

18

8

10

158

210

89

110

183

Total individual
pupils

(4)

14
112
421

39

15
6

11
179
280
118
175
284

1,654

XXV111

TABLE C. — OTHER INSPECTIONS

Number of Special Inspections .

Number of Re-inspections .

Total

table d.— infestation with vermin

(a) Total number of individual examinations of pupils in

schools by school nurses or other authorised persons . .

(b) Total number of individual pupils found to be infested . .

(c) Number of individual pupils in respect of whom cleansing

notices were issued (Section 54(2), Education Act, 1944)

(d) Number of individual pupils in respect of whom cleansing

orders were issued (Section 54(3), Education Act, 1944)

1,616

358

1,974

PART II— DEFECTS FOUND BY MEDICAL INSPECTION DURING

THE YEAR

PART II TABLE A. — PERIODIC INSPEC1IONS

PERIODIC INSPECTIONS

Defect or Disease

Entrants

Leavers

Others

Tot

al

(2)

(T)

(3)

O

i 1

1 •

(O)

(6)

(T)

(7)

(O)

(8)

(T)

(9)

(O)

(10)

59

13

66

48

74

23

199

84

Skin

1 1 1

102

260

11

267

57

638

170

Eyes — (a) Vision . .

6

14

4

43

8

95

18

(b) Squint . .

0 '

6

12

7

17

5

38

18

(c) Other . .

19

33

3

3

16

28

38

64

Ears— (a) Hearing

(b) Otitis Media . .

5

04

24

6

3

19

5

14

34

5

11

22

77

29

22

(c) Other . .

150

103

13

48

40

115

203

266

Nose and Throat

37

13

1

3

16

9

54

25

Speech

34

7

—

24

5

65

Lymphatic Glands . .

5

13

1

19

10

32

16

64

Heart

41

25

14

14

27

35

82

74

Lungs

12

Developmental —

O

4

1

1

2

7

12

(a) Hernia

34

; 49

16

29

27

73

77

151

lb) Other . .

68

79

105

Orthopaedic —

1

64

5

10

21

16

42

27

(a) Posture

23

41

23

60

33

165

lb) Feet . .

24

17

40

37

52

51

116

(c) Other

Nervous System —

1

5

5

2

2

5

5

I 8

12 :

• i; ;

(a) Epilepsy .

6

4

7

21

19

30

3- •

lb) Other

Psychological —

50

4

3

1

20

24

i 73

1 Cl

1 2° J
! 50 :

7 :

(a) Development

27

15

7

10

17

25

1 Vl

lb) Stability

Abdomen

22

fs,

2

l

1

1

1

3

6

4

26

12

» •

i-ii

XXiX

PART II TABLE B.— SPECIAL INSPECTIONS

Defect or Disease

(2)

Skin

Eyes — (a) Vision
(6) Squint
(c) Other
Ears — ( a ) Hearing

(6) Otitis Media
(c) Other
Nose and Throat
Speech

Lymphatic Glands
Heart
Lungs

Developmental —

(а) Hernia

(б) Other
Orthopaedic —

(а) Posture

(б) Feet
( c ) Other

Nervous System

(a) Epilepsy

(b) Other
Psychological —

(a) Development

( b ) Stability
Abdomen
Other

SPECIAL INSPECTIONS

Pupils requiring
Treatment

(3)

73

(456) ★
33
10
53
22
6
79
27
14

2

32

1

69

26

2

14

Pupils requiring
Observation
(4)

12

6

1

5

4

6

4

1

13

1

4

10

2

3

*No. of pupils found to require treatment for Warts or Veruccae.

TREATMENT of pupils attending maintained

AND ASSISTED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
(INCLUDING NURSERY AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS)

PART IAB, P A.— EYE DISEASES, AND DEFECTIVE VISION

AND SQUINT

f xternal and other, excluding errors of refraction
and squint .

F.rrors of refraction (including squint) .

Number of cases
known to have
been dealt with

163

1,289

Total

1 ,452

Number of pupils for whom spectacles
prescribed

were

832

XXX

TABLE B. — DISEASES AND DEFECTS OF EAR, NOSE AND

THROAT

Number of cases
known to have
been dealt with

Received operative treatment —

(a) for diseases of the ear . . . . . T“

(b) for adenoids and chronic tonsillitis . 251

(c) for other nose and throat conditions . 2

Received other forms of treatment . 1 14

Total . 367

Total number of pupils in schools who are known
to have been provided with hearing aids .

(a) in 1960 .

( b ) in previous years .

TABLE C. — ORTHOPAEDIC AND POSTURAL DEFECTS

Number of cases
known to have
been treated

(a) Pupils treated at clinics or out-patient depart¬
ments . •••••• •••

(/>) Pupils treated at school for postural detects ...

Total .

1,402

22

1,424

TABLE D. — DISEASES OF THE SKIN

(excluding uncleanliness, for which see Table D of Part 1)

Number of cases
known to have
been treated

Ringworm — (a) Scalp
(b) Body

Scabies .

Impetigo .

Other skin diseases ...

Total .

1

45

130

176

TABLE E. — CHILD GUIDANCE TREATMENT

Number of cases
known to have
been treated

71

Pupils treated at Child Guidance Clinics

XXXI

TABLE F. — SPEECH THERAPY

Received regular treatment .

Received treatment at irregular intervals

Total pupils treated by Speech Therapist

Number of cases
known to have
been treated
101
121

222

TABLE G. — OTHER TREATMENT GIVEN

Number of cases
known to have

(a) Pupils with minor ailments bee" ,dS5 with

(b) Pupils who received convalescent treatment

, , p UI?der ^chool Health Service arrangements 4

t ri rim' S '^h° received B.C.G. vaccination . 1 H6

(d) Other than (a), ( b ) and (c) above: — ’

I reatment given for warts . 223

” », veruccae . 7T?

Hospital In-patient treatment— Medical ... ... I45

” ” — Surgical . g9

” ” — Orthopaedic . 34

Total (a) — (d) 3,327

PART IV. DENTAL INSPECTION AND TREATMENT
CARRIED OUT BY THE AUTHORITY

(,) N U m Officers:—' ‘S inSpected by the Authority’s Dental

la) At Periodic Inspections . , ooc

(b) As Specials . 6,285

. 1,950

Total 0) . 8,235

n! v1Un'uCr f°und t0 recl u ' re treatment .... 7diu

Number offered treatment .

(4 Number actually treated .... .

(5) Number of attendances made by pupils for treatment’ ’

(« ..rar* - "«« - • : 8.090

(a) Periodic (School) Inspection ... 7,

(n) Treatment .. /5

. 1.616

Total (b) . 1,691

H) Fillings: (a) Permanent Teeth . ,

(b) Temporary Teeth ... ' sh

T°lal (7) . 3,293

XXX11

(8) Number of Teeth Filled : (a) Permanent Teeth .

(b) Temporary Teeth . 57

Total (8) . 3,036

(9) Extractions: (a) Permanent Teeth

(b) Temporary Teeth

1,234

2,000

Total (9) . 3,234

(10) Administration of general anaesthetics for extraction

(11) Orthodontics:

(a) Cases commenced during the year .

(b) Cases carried forward from previous year .

(c) Cases completed during the year .

(d) Cases discontinued during the year .

(e) Pupils treated with appliances .

(f) Removable appliances fitted .

(g) Fixed appliances fitted .

(h) Total attendances ... ... ... ... T .

(12) Number of pupils supplied with artificial teeth .

(13) Other operations: (a) Permanent Teeth .

(b) Temporary teeth .

2,013

9
3
3

3

32

10

4

79

12

1,616

2

Total (13) . 1*618

MINOR AILMENTS AND OTHER CLINICS

Monday

(a.m.)

School Clinic, Merton
Road, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre,
Oakenholt Rd., Moreton
Child Welfare Centre,
Water Street, Wallasey . .

Minor Ailments

Minor Ailments

Minor Ailments and
S.M.O.’s Clinic

(p.m.)

—

T uesday

(a.m.)

School Clinic, Merton
Road, Wallasey . .

S.M.O.’s Clinic and!
Minor Ailments

Child Welfare Centre,
Oakenholt Rd., Moreton

Minor Ailments an.
S.M.O.’s Clinic

Child Welfare Centre,

—

Water Street, Wallasey . .

(p.m.)

School Clinic, Merton
Road, Wallasey ..

XXX111

Wednesday

Thursday

hriday

^aturda>

(a.m.)

School Clinic, Merton
Road, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre,
Moreton

Child Welfare Centre,
Water Street, Wallasey. .

Ophthalmic Clinic
(Dr. Edwards)
(Fortnightly)
Minor Ailments
Ophthalmic Clinic
(Dr. Edwards)
(Fortnightly)
Minor Ailments

(p.m.)

School Clinic, Merton
Road, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre,
Moreton

Child Welfare Centre,
Water Street, Wallasey . .

Immunisation (1st
and 3rd Wednes¬
day of each month)

(a.m.)

School Clinic, Merton
Road, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre,
Moreton

Child Welfare Centre,
Water Street, Wallasey . .

Minor Ailments

Minor Ailments

(p.m.)

School Clinic, Merton
Road, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre,
Moreton

Child Welfare Centre,
Water Street, Wallasey. .

Orthopaedic
Specialist’s Clinic
(Mr. Davies),
(Except every 4th
Thursday)
do. (every 4th

Thursday)

(a.m.)

School Clinic, Merton
Road, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre,
Moreton

Child Welfare Centre,
Water Street, Wallasey . .

Ophthalmic Clinic
(Dr. Edwards)
Minor Ailments

Minor Ailments

(p.m.)

School Clinic, Merton

S.M.O.’s Clinic

1

I

Road, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre,
Moreton

Child Welfare Centre,
Water Street, Wallasey . .

(as required)
Immunisation
(Fortnightly)

(a.m.)

—

—

XXXIV

Monday

(a.m.)

-

(p.m.)

—

Tuesday

(a.m.) |

(p.m.) |

Wednesday

(a.m.)

(p.m.)

Thursday

(a.m.)

(p.m.)

Friday

(a.m.)

(p.m.)

School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey
School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre, Water Street, Wallasey

Elleray Park School, Wallasey

School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey
School or Home visits

Child Welfare Centre, Water Street, Wallasey

Monday

T uesday

Wednesday

(a.m.)

(p.m.)

(a.m.)

PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINICS

School Clime, Merton Road, Wallasey (U.V.L
and R.E. and Individual lreatments.i
Child Welfare Centre, Oakenholt Road, More-
ton (Remedial Exercises) _ _

Elleray Park Special School, Elleray Park
Road, Wallasey (Individual! rea™e"tsad
Child Welfare Centre, Oakenholt Road,
Moreton. (Remedial Exercises)

l^T~P^k Special School, ElRray Park
Road Wallasey (Remedial Exercises
Congregational Church Hall, Princess Road,
CWaUasgey (Individual and Group Treatments^

School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey

(Remedial Exercises) ,

Child Welfare Centre, Oakenho t Road,
Moreton. (U.V.L. and Remedial Ixeros^

School Clithc^Merton Rd„ Wallasey(U-V-L
and Individual Treatments)

Ellerav Park Special School, Elleray a
Road, Wallasey (Individual Treatments) ^

Child Welfare Centre, Water Street, 'Rall«ty|
(Remedial Exercises) „

School Clinic, Merton Rd., Wallasey
(I ndividualT reatments

(p.m.)

(a.m.)

(p.m.)

XXXV

Thursday

(a.m.)

Ei'eray ,.P"k Special School, Wallasey
(Remedial Exercises)

Child Welfare Centre, Oakenhoit Road
Moreton (U.V.L. & Individual Treatments)

(p.m.)

School Clinic, Merton Road. Wallasey
(Orthopaedic Specialist’s Clinic)

Child Welfare Centre, Oakenholt Road,

Moreton (Orthopaedic Specialist’s Clinic
once per month)

Friday

(a.m.)

Eperay Eaf.k Special School, Elieray Park
Road, Wallasey (Remedial Exercises)

School Clime, Merton Rd., Wailascv (TJ.V.L
and Individual Treatments)

(p.m.) j

Grosyenor Assembiy Rooms, Grosvenor St.,
Wallasey (Remedial Exercises)

S,cTho,01 .9“iic, Merton Road, Wallasey

Undividual Treatments)

XXXVI

Tuesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

(p.m.)

(a.m.)

(p.m.)

Wednesday (a.m.)

(p.m.)

(a.m.)

(p.m.)

(a.m.)

(p.m.)

School Dental Clinic, 47 Liscard Village,
Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre, Oakenholt Rd., Moreton
School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey

School Dental Clinic, 47 Liscard Village, Wallasey
School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey
Child Welfare Centre, Moreton

Child Welfare Centre. Moreton
School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey
Child Welfare Clinic, Water Street, Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre, Moreton
School Clinic, Alerton Road, Wallasey
Child Welfare Clinic, Wallasey.

School Dental Clinic, 47 Liscard Village, Wallasey
School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey
Child Welfare Centre, Oakenholt Rd., Moreton
Child Welfare Clinic, Wallasey

School Dental Clinic, 47 Liscard Village,
Wallasey

School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey
Child Welfare Centre, Oakenholt Rd., Moreton
Child Welfare Clinic, Wallasey _ _

School Dental Clinic, 47 Liscard Village,
Wallasey

Child Welfare Centre, Oakenholt Rd., Moreton
Child Welfare Clinic, Wallasey

School Dental Clinic, 47 Liscard Village,
Wallasey

School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey
Child Welfare Centre, Oakenholt Rd., M
Child Welfare Clinic, Wallasey

School Clinic, Merton Road, Wallasey
Child Welfare Clinic, Water Street W-
School Dental Clinic, 47 Liscard Villag^j _ _

School Dental Clinic, 47 Liscard V illage,V alias .

School Clinic, Merton Road, W^*se> WallaseV 1
Child Welfare Clinic, Water Street, J

(a.m.) Child Welfare Clinic, Wallasey_

CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC

(. Psychiatric Department)

120, Church Street, Wallasey, Dr. G. Egan, m.p., ch.B ,
Tuesday afternoons and Thursday atternc

XXXV11

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