View report page

So much for these objective factors for which figures are
available, but this is by no means the whole story. There are no
statistics by which we can study the health of the individual
and of the community in the sense of happy and successful living
as integrated members of society which is the essence of true
health. It is, I think, true that, despite the great advances in
clinical medicine over the past 40 years and the operation of
the National Health Service for 10 years, there has been no reduction
in the total incidence of disease although the pattern of
disease has changed The old-fashioned epidemics have been largely
brought under control but have been largely offset by the increase
in the incidence of the so-called psychosomatic diseases such as
coronary thrombosis, peptic ulcer, certain forms of cancer, the
psychoneuroses and by the new endemics, accidents on the roads
and in the home. Most disturbing of all is the great increase in
the last few decades, of mental ill-health as shown by the high
proportion of hospital beds taken up by the mentally sick., The
causes of this social malaise are very complex and have their
roots in the rapid changes which our society has undergone in
recent years. Prevention and cure of disease is not enough to
ensure true health in a modern society. The promotion of health
by a consciously-directed policy based, not only on the causes
of disease, but on the causes of health remains, as always,the
greatest challenge to statesmanship at the present time.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Chairman and Members of
the Health Committee for their support and encouragement, and
the Chief Public Health Inspector, Chief Clerk and all members
of the Health Department for their devoted service during the
year.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN LANDON
Medical Officer of Health
7