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ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Bexley.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for the
year 1959 which is prepared on the lines set out in Circular
1/60 of the Ministry of Health.
The Registrar-General's estimate of the mid year population
for the Borough is 90,500 (90,330 in 1958). On the
basis of the statistical information available, the health of
the Borough was well maintained. Although, as I have indicated
in the past, these figures give only a partial picture of
the health situation of the area, they do present collectively
a conspectus of the position which is at least objective
and capable of comparison with other areas in the
country as a whole. The environmental services operated by
the Council under a wide range of health legislation and the
School Health Service delegated to them by virtue of the
Excepted District Status of the Borough are, of course, complementary
to the Health and Welfare Services operated by
the Kent County Council under the National Health Service
Act, 1946 and the National Assistance Act, 1948 and comprise
a wide range of personal health services vital to
the health of every section of the community—the young,
the old, the infirm and those who are physically or mentally
handicapped. During the year the Borough Council gave
evidence before the Royal Commission on Local Government
in Greater London and it is hoped the recommendations
of the latter will achieve a degree of unification of all
the health services in the area which is so much to be
desired.
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