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3
To The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the Annual Report of the
Medical Officer of Health for 1962.
(1) Vital Statistics
The main causes of death continue to be heart disease and
carcinoma, with a particular emphasis in respect of the lung and
bronchus.
Unhappily the illegitimate live birth rate has reached a higher
figure than ever before. In 1962 it was 25 per cent (cf. 21 per cent in
1961).
(2) Infectious Disease
The incidence of infectious disease in the Borough has again
been minimal. There were 3 notifications of typhoid fever and 2 of
poliomyelitis, one of which was paralytic. Special reference to
Venereal disease is made in the body of the report.
(3) Staff
The Council decided to appoint a Chief Public Health Inspector
to strengthen the administrative section of the department—a
position which already obtains in most Metropolitan Boroughs.
Accordingly Mr. E. W. Pike, previously Deputy Chief Public
Health Inspector of Hammersmith, joined us in May, 1962. Already
the inspectorate has benefitted from his knowledge and experience,
particularly in respect of our intricate housing problems.
I am pleased to record that during the year two of the Council's
Student Public Health Inspectors qualified and are now on our
staff. Three other Public Health Inspectors were also recruited,
but unfortunately two Inspectors left for other appointments.
At the end of the year the Public Health Inspectors were still three
under establishment.
(4) Housing Act, 1961
I would like to make particular reference to the Housing Act,
1961, which has occupied much of the time in the department and
to which particular reference is made in the report.
(5) Other Reports
I include the reports of the Borough Analyst (Mr. Marshall)
and the Borough Welfare Officer (Miss Harrison), and to both
I would like to draw the special attention of the Council.