View report page

It is unfortunate that there was another small outbreak
of diphtheria at the end of the year. The circumstances
were similar to those of the outbreak which occurred
twelve months previously, but prompt action by the public
health officers of both the Borough Council and the London
County Council, working in collaboration, prevented the
spread of the disease. Nevertheless, 13 cases and 25
'carriers' were removed to hospital before the outbreak
was brought under control; unfortunately, one unimmunised
child died.
The Council's first Smoke Control Order under the
Clean Air Act, 1956, came into operation during the year.
The experience gained in establishing this area is proving
of considerable value in furthering the Council's Smoke
Control Programme. Many problems and difficulties have
been encountered and overcome: they provide a precedent
for future action in similar circumstances. I think it is
fair to say that the scheme has been well-received by the
residents in the area who have co-operated whole-heartedly.
Health education again played a large part in the
activities of the Public Health Department and particular
attention was directed to Home Safety and Clean Air. There
is an increasing demand by schools, clubs and other organisations
for speakers to address their members on matters
of public health importance, and I would like to pay
tribute to the enthusiasm of my staff, many of whom have
given up their own time in the evenings and week-ends to
give talks, film shows and demonstrations.
The housing situation, although steadily improving,
will remain one of the major public health and social
problems for many years. The Council continued their
unceasing efforts to deal with it by the provision of new
housing accommodation, the conversion of existing properties
into flats, and the clearance and development of
slum areas. The last of the areas to be dealt with by
this Council in the five-year slum clearance programme
1956/60 were represented during the year and the areas
for the next five years (1961/65) were agreed with the
London County Council.
The full-scale working of the Department was again
hampered by the shortage of Public Health Inspectors, but
the Council's scheme for the training of such officers
made excellent progress and within the next year or two
should prove of considerable benefit.
2