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To the Chairman and Members of the public Health Cormittee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present herewith my Twelfth Annual Report,
being the fortieth of the series, dealing with work of the Public Health
Department. There is also incorporated my report) as School Medical Officer.
to the Education Committee.
The report has been much curtailed because of the necessity to
economise in paper. It was felt that some of the usual statistical data,
although of interest, were not indispensable. For any who are particularly
interested, the usual full statistical details, on the lines of my previous
reports, are available, and will be filed so that continuity in recording
will not be broken. The issue of the report has been delayed, firstly,
because relevent data wore not received from tho Registrar-General until a
much later date than usual, and, secondly, on account of the pressure of
Air Raid Precaution matters,
The year 1939 was once again a healthy year, and although the
statistics may not be absolutely accurate owing- to the fluctuations of
population from September to december, they are sufficiently so to show that
1939 was no less satisfactory than 1933. The out ward trend of population
tends to raise the calculated death rates and to lower the birth rates. The
population was estimated at 245,900 . The Birth rate was 14.0 per 1000
of the estimated population - an increase on 1938; the Death rate was 11.0
per 1,000 estimated population - an increase of 0.7 per 1,000; the maternal
mortality was 1.16 por 1,000 total births - a low figure - and the infantile
mortality was 38 per 1,000 live births, the lowest rate yet recorded.
In spite of tho additional heavy burdens placed on tho department
by the demands of Civil Defence, the appropriate public health activities
have continued with practically no vital curtailment The good record of
health for the year bears evidence that vigilance has not boon allowed to relax
because of abnormal circumstances.
In order to maintain continuity in the form of the report it has
been divided into the usual sections, but commentations upon the statistical
tables have been omitted. It is felt that the tables are sufficiently explicit
to put the facts before readers. This results in substantial reduction in the
bulk of the report without impairing its use as a record of the health of the
town and work done by the responsible department.
No details have been given regarding the Casualty Services of the
Civil Defence organisation as I feel this is not a public health service but
an entirely separate division. The organisation of these services has,however,
consumed much time and energy, covering as they do the building up of Stretcher
Party and Ambulance Services; th establishment of First Aid Posts and the
modification of Hospital arrangement under the Emergency Hospital Scheme.
This could not have been done without the loyal and whole-hearted co-operation
and help of the professional and all other members of the department and I wish
to record my sincere thanks to them.
To you, ladies and gentlemen, I also express ny thanks for the
support and encouragement I have experienced throughout the year in all
matters which I have brought before you, and for the active interest you have
taken in the welfare of the department.
I am,
Yours faithfully,
Oscar M. Holden.
Medical Officer of Health.