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1
Town Hall,
Hammersmith, W.6.
Telephone: Riverside 3020.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in presenting my Annual Report on the
state of the Public Health in Hammersmith for the year 1960, the
Report being on the lines requested by the Minister of Health.
Once again, I regret that it was not possible to publish it sooner,
as it is necessary to include in the Report vital statistics which
cannot be calculated until the necessary figures are received from
the Registrar General.
The year was notable particularly with regard to the Public
Health Department's added responsibilities with regard to the
various services for old people. We have always worked closely
with the Town Clerk and his officers but in June the Secretary of
the Hammersmith Old People's Welfare Association and that
Association asked us to play a greater part in their activities and
requested that I should become their Hon. Medical Director.
The Public Health Department and I welcomed this opportunity
to give more of our time to old people and the arrangement continues
to work very well indeed.
I should emphasise, however, that the affairs of the Hammersmith
Old People's Welfare Association could not flourish without
the very generous assistance of the Hammersmith Borough Council.
The Council, and the Mayor himself, have repeatedly come to our
rescue and enabled us to introduce new services of which we are
very proud.
For instance in June, the delivered lunches were first served
from a new type of container which maintains the meal at the
appropriate temperature—a hundred of these being then served
from two vehicles particularly designed for this service.
Serious infectious disease was happily scarce during 1960 but
in April two carriers of a food poisoning organism (Salmonella St.
Paul) were found in a large food factory and were isolated at home
until free from infection. It is of interest to record that financial
compensation was paid to both men by the Hammersmith Borough
Council under their powers contained in the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1959. There are a number of
other unusual problems which came to our notice and will be found
later in the substance of the report.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Members of the Council and,
in particular, the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee
and the Establishment Committee, for the support and encouragement
which I have at all times received, and to express my sincere
thanks to all the Staff of the Public Health Department for their
loyal support and excellent work done throughout the year.
I am, Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. M. DAY,
Medical Officer of Health.