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3
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR 1955
Town Hall,
Anerley Road, S.E.20.
22nd May, 1956.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penge.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present my Annual Report for the year ended 31st December, 1955,
which has been compiled in accordance with Circulars 3/56 and 17/55 of the
Ministry of Health.
The Vital Statistics show little change from the previous year and compare
favourably with those for England and Wales. The Birth Rate for the District
is above the average for the country and is slightly higher than last year, while
the adjusted death rate remains the same. It is pleasing to note that the number
of stillbirths was nearly half that of the previous year. Again, the number of
deaths from cancer shows a small increase, but there was only one death from
tuberculosis.
Infectious diseases have been few save for an epidemic of measles which
was of a mild type and produced fewer cases than in some previous years.
It is gratifying to record that there has been only one case of Sonne Dysentery
notified during the year. To what extent the poster and leaflet campaign
inaugurated last year and carried on for the first six months of this year is
responsible is pure conjecture. One hopes, however, that by constant reiteration
of the fact that regular washing of the hands after the use of the toilet and before
handling any food this disease may be prevented. In this way loss of schooling
for the children and possibly of work by the wage earner and a large amount
of extra work for this already busy department can be avoided. There has for
the eighth successive year been no case of diphtheria in the district, but in spite
of this any relaxation in the immunisation procedure is fraught with danger.
There are still too many children who have received no protective inoculations
and among these it is quite possible for an outbreak to occur with possibly
some fatal cases. Whilst immunisation will not entirely prevent any child
catching the disease, the chances of any serious development are remote.
The welfare of the old people in the district has been well looked after by
various voluntary bodies who receive very little publicity for the large amount
of hard work which is undertaken by them in the provision of meals at home,
clubs and a residential home. They deserve the thanks and support of the
district whose older members would have a very much more difficult life without
their help and encouragement.
There were a few cases of food poisoning all unconnected with one
another.
Further progress was made during the year with housing projects, but there
still remain a number of families who for various reasons need re-housing.
Each year the number of available sites diminish and the difficulty of rehousing
becomes more acute.