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1
Town Hall,
Hammersmith, W.6.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in presenting to you my Annual
Report for 1951.
It is not an exaggeration to record here that our Borough
continues to enjoy a standard of health so high that there is
little in the way of new outbreaks of disease which need
emphasis.
Infectious diseases remained low in incidence and no large
outbreak of poliomyelitis occurred. Eight cases were notified
to me during the year.
Tuberculosis shows little sign of reducing its incidence and
the total number of cases in Hammersmith was 1,852.
Amongst non-infectious diseases, cancer of the lung further
increased, almost entirely amongst middle-aged men. Deaths
from this cause in men between the ages of 45 and 65 were
more than double those resulting from tuberculosis of the lung
and deaths in all age groups have more than trebled during
the last 10 years from malignant diseases of the lungs.
The activities of the Hammersmith Clean Food Traders'
Guild and of the Hammersmith Old People's Welfare Association
continued at high pressure and a great deal of very good
work was done by each of these two voluntary bodies.
The happy liaison between the Health Department and the
medical and lay staff of the London County Council Divisional
Offices continues to facilitate their public health duties, and
we have been much assisted by the arrangement whereby key
staff of the County Council work from offices in the Hammersmith
Health Department.
I have been much helped in my work by having available
the services of two part-time assistants and this scheme,
fostered by the good offices of the Council and its Establishment
and Health Committees, has proved a great success in
filling the gap caused by no longer having a full-time Deputy
Medical Officer of Health.
In conclusion, I would like to record my appreciation and
thanks to the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors and, in
particular, to the Chairman and Members of the Health
Committee, for their assistance and help in the various
problems which arose, and to express to the staff my thanks
for their valuable work and loyal co-operation throughout the
year.
I am, Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. M. DAY,
Medical Officer of Health.