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PREFACE.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Edmonton, N.9.
His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of
Edmonton.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in presenting my third Annual Report for the year
1937, on the Sanitary circumstances, Sanitary administration and Vital
Statistics of the Borough of Edmonton. This is my first report since the
Urban District of Edmonton was raised to the dignity of a Borough, and with
this increase of dignity and wider outlook in public health matters we must
go forward to make Edmonton second to none in the Country.
The contents are compiled in accordance with Circular 1650 issued by
the Ministry of Health.
All the items adopted by the Council as the result of the special report
in 1935, have now been accomplished with the one exception of office accommodation
; it is to be regretted that the Council have been slow in realising
the development of their district, and the necessity of increased staff and
increased facilities to deal with such increase.
We have accomplished much during this year, but there still remains
that touch of quality which is necessary to bring the Public Health Services
up to date as a whole. A very large amount of work has been accomplished
successfully, thanks to the whole-hearted co-operation of the combined professional
and clerical staff; we look forward to the future with bright hopes
to accomplish much on behalf of Public Health in all sections of the community.
The amalgamation of the Maternity and Child Welfare and School
Medical Services, completed a year ago, has borne much fruit, and it is
pleasing to note that the officers concerned are very interested in their work.
We might say that the duties entailed in these two departments are fraught
with the greatest benefit for the future population and, together with the
Public Health Department, are undoubtedly the most important functions
associated with a local authority.
It is still to be regretted that office accommodation is very inadequate.
No real effort has been made by the Council during the year to deal with the
serious conditions of overcrowding appertaining in the Town Hall; we are
of opinion that it is no excuse that this should be neglected now because a
new Town Hall is proposed to be built at some future date.
We think it ought to be borne on the Council that overcrowding and
working under cramped conditions with lack of facilities are circumstances
that are fraught with many disadvantages, i.e., it leads to increased illness
in the staff with consequent absence from duty, while the lack of facilities
decrease the efficiency of those so employed. We hope that until the newTown
Hall is built, additional accommodation will be acquired in order to
obviate further difficulties.
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