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Borough of Bermondsey.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of
Bermondsey.
Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to submit my Annual Report for the year 1953.
The health of the community has remained generally good,
and the details of the mortality and morbidity statistics, together
with information on the varied work carried out by the Public Health
Department may be found in the body of the Report.
The population of the Borough, again, shows a slight decrease
in spite of the rehousing by the London County Council in their new
estates of housing applicants from outside this area.
More attention is being paid to the needs of the aged, particularly
those home-bound and chronic sick persons who seem to be
the responsibility of neither the Hospital Services nor the Welfare
Department of the London County Council. As a result of the
responsibilities placed upon the Public Health Department by the
Council, every effort can now be made to mitigate the sad circumstances
of most elderly persons who, while needing some attention,
cannot be admitted to a hospital or old people's home.
In 1953 the Borough suffered its second severe flood disaster
in 25 years. Although high tide was not expected until 3.5 a.m. on
the morning of the 1st February, by 2 a.m. considerable quantities of
water were flowing in the Tooley Street and Rotherhithe Street areas.
The flooding affected over 150 dwellings, the water entering some
houses to a depth of 2 feet.