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infant mortality rate fell to a record new low level, and also
that only one mother was lost during the year —the same as
last year's record low figure for maternal deaths.
The Borough has indeed been fortunate in its health, and
there is no doubt that the cumulative effect of its social
services during a period of many years, has been responsible
for the high standard of health which was enjoyed during 1948.
My report to you, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, is still
in an abridged form, on instructions from the Ministry of
Health, and I have included, the same as last year, a short
paragraph of explanatory introduction to each series of
statistics and tables.
In conclusion, I should like to express my appreciation of
the kindness and consideration shown to by me the Chairman
and members of the Health Committee, and the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee, and to record my thanks to
the members of the staff for their loyal co-operation, without
which, the services of the Department could not have been so
highly and efficiently maintained.
1 feel that it should be emphasised that the staff during
this year of change have been subjected to unusual stresses
and strains, often of a personal nature, and resulting from the
professional horizon confronting them. No sign of this has
interfered with the efficiency of any one of them, and evidence
of this is the almost unnoticed change-over of the transferred
services.
I am, Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Your obedient Servant,
F. M. DAY.
Medical Officer of Health.