View report page

T
INTRODUCTION TO ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1940
The report for 1940 is restricted to an account of the
work of the various Services, and most of the infornation is
set out in tabular form. It will be noticed that the report
contains no vital statistics: the calculation of the Birth
Rate, and the various Death Rates, is dependant on information
supplied by the Registrar-General. In normal years this
infornation is received by the end of April, but judging from
our experience last year, it is improbable that the necessary
figures for the year 1940 will reach us until the end of the
current year. When the information is available, a
supplementary report will be submitted.
During the first eight months of 1940, the conditions
of life in the Borough remained much the same as in the latter
part of 1939. The continued immunity of this country from
attacks from the air lead to a greater degree of stability,
the disorganisation of the Health Services, caused by the
outbreak of war, disappeared, and these Services returned
almost to a normal peace-time routine.
Following the outbreak of war there was a certain amount
of voluntary evacuation from all parts of the Borough, but
as the vceks went by many of these families returned to their
home s.
During the last four months of the year, air-raids were
regular and persistent. Day-time raids were, however,
infrequent, and little actual interference was caused to the
routine work of the Health Services. There was more
voluntary evacuation, and this was reflected in diminished
attendances at the various Clinics and Infant Wolfare Centres.
The air-raids also brought with them their special problems
for the Health Department - notably the co-reful inspection
of food in the shops in the affected areas, and widespread,
though in most instances slight, damage to drains and sewers.
At no time was there serious disorganisation of any of the
Public Utility Services.
The unavoidable delay in reopening the Infants
Departments of the Elementary Schools interfered with the
work of Diphtheria Immunisation, but the number of children
under school ages presented for treatment compared favourably
with the response in earlier years.
I should like to express my thanks to Dr. Thomson, the
Assistant Medical Officer of Health, and to all of the
members of my staff, all of whom have undertaken a great deal
of voluntary work in the Civil Defence Services in addition
to their ordinary duties, for their tireless, willing and
cheerful assistance.
28th February, 1941 T. PHILIPS COLE