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CITY OF WESTMINSTER
INTERIM REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
for the year 1939
22r. Mayor, Liy Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The publication of this Annual Report has never
before been so delayed. It will be understood that the outbreak
of war in September, 1939, completely transformed the peace-time
duties of £ health department. Not only were they transformed
but multiplied many times over. Within a period of 24 hours, the
normal staff, by the addition of First Aid and other personnel
employed in Civil Defence services had been increased fifteen times.
The administration of such a greatly extended organisation,
required the transfer of senior officers from the municipal
headquarters to Casualty Depots, War-time Mortuaries, etc.,
throughout the City. This likewise added to the duties of a
depleted personnel engaged in central administration. The
arrangements for evacuation and its subsequent ebb and flow have
added another factor likely to dislocate the normal discharge of
public health duties. Nevertheless the fundamental functions of
a health department have been maintained. There has been no
slackening for example in the investigation and control of
infectious disease and other urgent conditions likely to prejudice
health. But work of a planned nature, such as procedure under
the Housing and Factory Acts e.g. scheduling of unfit houses and
underground bakehouses has fallen into abeyance.
The year 1939 was a healthy one so far as the City of
Westminster was concerned. In the last quarter there wore
considerable movements of population and so vital statistics
based on existing data may not be completely reliable. For a
time the child population had fallen by 60 per cent. For the
whole year the infant mortality rate was 33.4 - the lowest on
record - and there were no maternal deaths. The death rate was
slightly increased and the birth rate lower. The general incidence
of infectious disease was markedly low. The incidence and death
rate from tuberculosis showed an increase.
This report is required by the Ministry of Health as
an Interim Report, being mainly a statistical report for future
purposes and is thus submitted in skeleton fcra. An account,
however, of 'lead in cider' causing a mild degree of poisoning
is included as it may prove of some interest.
No thanks or praise from me would be adecuate
expression for the war-time work of the staff. Without their
willing efforts, by night' as well as by day, the ;iir Raid
Precautions Services under my control could never have functioned
or become effective.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
ANDREW J. SHINNIE.