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6
On the eve of the transfer of the services to the London County Council
the Mayor at the time, Councillor Hal Gutteridge, J.P., M.I.Mech.E.,
entertained members of the City Council associated with the
work of Maternity and Child Welfare and other personal health services,
the Chairman of the London County Council Public Health Committee
and his senior officers, and all members of the staff who were leaving the
service of the City Council to enter that of the London County Council.
In reply to the Mayor's speech of farewell to the City Council's staff,
the Chairman welcomed them as new members of the London County
Council staff, and said he felt sure that no one would be conscious of
the change over ; everything would continue as before and so far as the
service to the public is concerned, that hope has been fulfilled by the
conscientiousness and continued devotion of those who had dedicated
themselves to this work. So far as the position of your Medical Officer
of Health is concerned in these London County Council services, the
situation is ill-defined and perhaps somewhat anomalous. He has offered
advice and when called on has gladly given such assistance as might
help the smooth and efficient conduct of the services, while his personal
relationships with the Divisional Medical Officer and his staff have been
most cordial.
The Minister asks specially for information relating to Section 47 of the
National Assistance Act, 1948. This section relates to the compulsory
removal from their homes of aged and infirm persons unable to care for
themselves because of chronic grave illness or other cause and living in
insanitary conditions. This is not a new power. It was contained in
Section 224 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, a section now
repealed. But the procedure has been somewhat altered and made no
easier to administer. Fortunately, during the year no such compulsory
orders had to be applied for.
Among other matters the Minister wishes to be informed about is
water supplies. This applies most directly to rural areas. Special
mention must be made of inspection of meat and other foods, shops, stalls,
&c., and places where food is prepared. Stress is laid on the inspection
of animals both before and after slaughter, but—as there are no slaughter
houses in the City, the need for these returns does not apply.
Food Poisoning.—Details are required of the number of outbreaks
and cases, any deaths, bacteriological findings and the nature of foods
involved and related to such outbreaks.
Population of the City in terms of the Registrar General's mid-year
estimate has fallen from 103,440 in 1947 to 100,900 in 1948. If the
population has fallen slighly the birth rate has fallen with it, 13.8 as
compared with 15.4 in 1947. It looks as if the exuberant birth rate of
the late war years and afterwards had begun to wane. The general
death rate had again fallen and is below that of London generally, but
the number of children dying under the age of 1 year was 53, the same
as in 1947, and as there were fewer births the infant mortality rate is
slightly higher, 38.1 compared with 33.2.