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TO HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR, THE ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF PADDINGTON.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my Annual Report for the year 1931 as required by
the Statutes and Orders applicable to my office.
During the year the health of the Borough continued to be generally good, and no
particular cause of death calls for special comment.
The infantile mortality rate of 87 shows room for improvement as compared with past
years and as compared with the figure for the County of London, namely, 65. Paddington
contains some streets which are amongst the poorest in London, and is increasingly the
resort of poverty-stricken and migratory families from other parts of the United Kingdom
and Ireland. These unfortunate people tend to have large families which they cannot rear
successfully, and their presence contributes appreciably to the large infantile mortality rate.
Important steps were taken during the year to strengthen the maternity and child
welfare services of the Borough. An agreement was concluded with the Board of Management
of St. Mary's Hospital whereby the Council will be entitled, in the near future, to the
use of a self-contained suite of wards in the Hospital, providing fourteen beds for lying-in
mothers.
It was considered desirable to transfer to the service of the Council certain health
visitors and medical officers previously employed under the Paddington School for Mothers.
This Society will continue to provide and equip the necessary welfare centres, and arrange
for the services of voluntary workers. A nutritional and physio-therapeutic centre has been
established for the supervision of delicate children, massage and ultra-violet irradiation
being available for those children needing such treatment.
Owing to the need for economy this report has been curtailed in some respects.
I have again to express my appreciation of the loyal help of the staff of the Public Health
Department of the Council and to thank the members of the Public Health, Maternity and
Child Welfare, and Special Housing Committees for the support and kind consideration which
they have extended to me during the past year.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
G.E. Oates
M.D., M.R.C.P., D.P.H.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Paddington Green, W. 2.
ls£ June, 1932.