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Health Services Department,
Walworth Road,
S. E. 17.
October, 1946.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The year under review has seen a change from war to peace
and many difficulties have arisen in consequence, particularly the
shortage of houses and suitable accommodation for people returning
from reception areas and from the Armed Forces. There is no doubt
that the housing difficulty will have to be faced for some little
time to come, an inevitable fact in a Borough which has been so
badly damaged and devastated as the result of enemy action.
In spite of the war and the difficulties which presented
themselves in the latter half of the year, the health of the Borough
has been particularly good. The Infant Mortality Rate is noteworthy
in that it has fallen to 39 per 1000 births, which is the
lowest figure ever recorded in the Borough. Forty years ago the
infant mortality figure was in the neighbourhood of 200 per 1000
births.
Infectious diseases have been slight and only one death
occurred as - result thereof and that was due to cerebro-spinal
meningitis.
The throe nurseries maintained by the Ministry of Health
were carried on throughout the year, although a serious handicap was
the recruitment of suitable staff. At no time was there a complete
staff at all the nurseries, although the children's accommodation
was full.
In conformity with the request of the Ministry of Health a
drive was made to obtain Homo and Domestic Helps, but in spite of the
efforts made by the Authority with the co-operation of the Ministry
of Labour the campaign was unsuccessful.
The X-ray unit installed during the year in the Tuberculosis
Clinic has enabled the medical staff to produce chest pictures of more
detail and accuracy than in the past, and there is every hope that it
will materially assist in the nation-wide fight against Tuberculosis,
I have much pleasure in tendering ray best thanks for their
support and co-operation to the Chairmen and members of the Committees
on which I serve, to the Chief Officers of the Council and to
the whole of my staff.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Yours obediently,
W. STOTT
Medical Officer of Health.
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