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His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in submitting my annual report for the year 1951.
The vital statistics for the year show a slight rise in the birth rate and the death rate in infants remains at a very
low level. There has been a distinct rise in the death rate, but it is not possible to attribute this rise to any particular
disease. It will be noted that in the abridged list of causes of death the miscellaneous group, classified as "Other
Diseases," has increased from 135 to 152. The total number of deaths from tuberculosis has increased slightly, but the
number of new cases is reduced.
The reader will notice an increase in the number of notifications of puerperal pyrexia. This increase is due to the
new method of notification. Previously, cases which occurred in hospital had the notification transferred to the place
of residence of the patient. The new regulations have the effect of making the notifications of hospital cases refer
to the borough in which the hospital is situated; having two large hospitals with maternity departments, this borough
has had a considerable increase in the number of cases of puerperal pyrexia. This does not mean that there has been
any general increase in the number of cases, and in future it will be possible to obtain this information only by reference
to the figures published for the country as a whole.
The number of notified cases of food poisoning or suspected food poisoning shows a substantial increase, but it
should be noticed that notification of this disease includes not only food poisoning but suspected food poisoning, and
to a considerable degree the large number of notifications is due to the keenness and care of the practitioners in the
borough. The great majority of the cases on investigation have been found to be digestive upsets of varying kinds and
not due to infection. The body of the report contains details of one fatal case which occurred during the year.
Although every effort was made to trace the source, this remained a matter for conjecture.
The volume of complaints dealt with by the District Sanitary Inspectors shows a reduction, and it has been
possible to undertake more detailed work in the dwelling houses inspected, and as a result of follow-up letters,
subsequent to notices being served, it has been possible to effect more repairs without recourse to legal proceedings.
Housing accommodation in the borough remains a source of anxiety to the Public Health Department. Since
1945 the greatest possible attention has been paid to this problem in the borough, and the past, present, and future
building programmes indicate that the Council has taken all possible steps, within its powers, to improve the housing
position. From the Public Health point of view, however, having regard to what has been achieved and what is proposed
and practicable for the future, and having consideration for the deterioration taking place in much of the property in
the borough, it does not seem that houses are being built fast enough to replace obsolete houses. The position is
aggravated by the present high cost of repairs in relation to controlled rents, and the work which this Council can carry
out under the Housing Act to render properties reasonably fit will be liable to greater restriction in the future by reason
of the work being considered uneconomical. This is a problem which affects many other Authorities, in some cases
perhaps more acutely than in Paddington. The solution to the problem is not one for the Public Health Department
alone, but is intimately connected with finance. The only possible solution to the problem would appear to be a
complete reorientation of our views as to what constitutes a reasonable financial outlay in the repair of existing
properties. The London County Council (General Powers) Act, which is mentioned elsewhere in this report, gives some
help in this direction, but to tackle this problem effectively the Council would require substantial financial backing and
wider powers if full use is to be made of existing buildings.
During the year steps were taken towards providing better facilities in the Council's mortuary, and it is anticipated
that work will commence shortly.
My thanks are due, not only to all members of the Public Health staff, but to the other Chief Officers and to many
members of the Council staff in other departments for their support and co-operation during the year.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Department,
15, Park Place Villas,
Paddington Green, W.2