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Health Services Department,
Walworth Road, S.E.17.
November, 1942.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in submitting herewith my report concerning the
health of the Borough during the year 1941. As in former years this
report is in abridged form including only such vital statistics and
other items of interest affecting the Health Department as suggested
by the Minister of Health in a circular to Local Authorities.
During the year the health of the population has been good, and
has been maintained at a very satisfactory standard although so many
restrictions in the mode of living have necessitated many alterations
in family life, There has been no serious outbreak of infectious
disease during the year, but the Government drew attention to the
necessity for Local Authorities to be prepared for an almost immediate
out-break of typhus fever. After a number of meetings with Medical
Authorities I prepared a comprehensive scheme for controlling and
dealing with this disease had it arisen. Fortunately no cases were
reported, although the control measures which I have mentioned, are
ready to be put into action at a moment's notice.
The risk of an out-break of disease calls attention to a matter
which I should like particularly to emphasize; the Ministry of
Labour and National Service in its unceasing drive to draft men into
the Services or industry are continually calling upon Local Authorities
to make still greater contributions from their own staffs. Whilst I
agree that many of the executive posts, which do not require
specialized knowledge can be undertaken by women in a Public Health
Department, there are many situations which require an extensive
knowledge of procedure and precedent. The knowledge gained during
a number of years by the permanent officers cannot be acquired by
temporary staff even given some months previous training. The depletion
of the official staff has now reached such a state that to
make a further reduction would be to imperil the working of the
department, and thus endanger public health itself.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Department has continued to
function throughout the year, and it has been noticed that the number
of women and children attending clinics has increased consequent upon
their return from Reception Areas. The Ministry of Labour and
National Service drew attention during the year to the necessity for
opening War-Time Nurseries, and as a result negotiations have proceeded,
and a new Nursery was opened early in 1942.
The supervision of foodstuffs called for special attention; as
a result of action taken by the Department, the import of prepared
meat from Eire was banned by the Ministry of Food.
The work of the Tuberculosis Dispensary has been on rather a
heavier scale than formerly, due in a large measure to cases referred
to the Borough by Army Medical Boards.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Yours obediently,
W.STOTT.
Medical Officer of Health.