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6
In my Report for 1963, I referred to the effect of the severe winter on
deaths from respiratory diseases, particularly pneumonia and bronchitisand
to the possibility of the severe weather having caused an increased
number of deaths, I pointed out that although the figures were too small
for statistical analysis, the cold weather might, in fact, have been a
factor. In the current year, there was quite a marked reduction in deaths
from pneumonia and bronchitis compared with the previous year. For
instance, there were 53 deaths from pneumonia in 1964 compared with
95 in 1963 and 78 from bronchitis as compared with 99 in 1963. Moreover,
in 1963 there were 8 deaths from influenza but in 1964 no deaths
were recorded from this disease. This is a welcome reduction of deaths
from respiratory illnesses.
The routine work of the Department continued throughout the
year and details will be found in the body of the Report. I do not think
that any mention need be made of any special activities except to say that
the work in connection with houses in multiple occupations continued,
and that further progress was made in work under the Clean Air Act.
1956.
For the greater part of the year, but particularly in the latter halfmuch
time and attention was necessarily given to problems raised by the
re-organisation of London Local Government. Senior staff of the Department
in particular were involved and it was necessary to review the work
of the Department, to collate information and statistics and to exchange
information with the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth and generally
to do everything to ensure that the change-over of responsibility would
be as smooth as possible. I should like to thank my senior colleagues for
their help in these tasks.
This brings me to the end of my Report for 1964, and the last Health
Report to the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea. Over the years, the
Health Committee through its Health Department has served the people
of Battersea well and it is confidently hoped and expected that this service
will continue with no less enthusiasm in the future than in the past.
It has been a great privilege and a very happy experience to have
been Medical Officer of Health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.
I would like to take this final opportunity of saying how much I have
valued the guidance, support and courtesy of the Chairman and Members
of the Health Committee, and also the other Committees with which I
was concerned, over the period of more than 13 years that I was Medical
Officer of Health of Battersea. I also thank my colleagues and the staff
of the Public Health Department for their unstinted application over the
years to their work and duties.
I have the honour to be, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
J. TUDOR LEWIS,
Medical Officer of Health.