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and others should keep on pressing home these serious facts
upon those in higher authority as I am convinced that they are
too far removed to comprehend fully the distress and difficulties
with which we are faced every day.
The second problem to which I wish to refer is that of the
" Old People."
Since the introduction of the National Health Act the plight
of many old people has been very acutely and forcibly brought
to our notice. The Borough Council has done all it is allowed to
do under the law to bring assistance to these people and to
encourage the interested voluntary bodies in their welfare work.
After two years' experience of dealing almost daily with some
problem relating to an old man or woman, one is forced to think
that the Ministry of Health are quite satisfied that the situation
is covered by the provisions of the Health and Assistance Acts,
together with the assistance rendered by voluntary agencies.
In spite of all the provisions made, I am certain that this line of
thought, based on curative medicine and hospital beds, is a
wrong one. To deal with the old people adequately, one must
work and think on preventive lines. Many of the conditions
which render old people helpless and bedridden when neglected
are preventable. Many hospital beds, and the time of district
nurses, are being used by old people suffering from conditions
which could have been prevented if adequate preventive services
had been available. These services can best be provided by the
local authorities responsible for environmental health; that
is those authorities closest to the problem and who are in daily
contact and know the conditions and needs of their citizens.
Other comments which I have wished to make on the
activities of this Department will be found under the appropriate
sections of the report. I would, however, particularly
like to point out the large amount of very successful work undertaken
during the year by your Sanitary Inspectors, and also to
the report on " Smoke Abatement " on pages 13-16.
In expressing once again my appreciation of the loyal cooperation
received from the Members of the Council, the Public
Health Department staff, and the Chief Officers and staffs of
other Departments, I must add a personal note on the sad deaths
during the year of Alderman A. J. Gillian, Chairman of the
Public Health Committee, and of Mr. T. Jenkins of the
Rodent Control section; also on the retirement of Mr. H.
Hattersley, Sanitary Inspector for more than half of his forty
years' service.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
W. STOTT,
Medical Officer of Health.