View report page

3
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR 1959
Town Hall,
Anerley Road, S.E.20.
7th July, 1960.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penge.
Mr. Chairman, Lady and Gentlemen,
I beg to present my Annual Report for the year ended 31st December, 1959,
which is prepared in accordance with Ministry of Health Circular No. 1/60.
The Vital Statistics call for little comment as they remain substantially the
same as last year and are in line with those of the country as a whole. As has
been the case for a number of years, the birth-rate is high.
Once again I can report a year free from any case of diphtheria, and it is
now twelve years since one occurred. Elsewhere in this report figures are given
for the numbers in the district who have received protective immunisation for
diphtheria, poliomyelitis, whooping cough and smallpox. There still remain
quite a number of parents who have not taken advantage of these measures for
their children, and it would be possible for quite a large outbreak to occur among
these unprotected children.
With the vacant post of Public Health Inspector becoming filled, it has
been possible to make further progress with the inspection and subsequent
representation of unfit houses, and four further clearance areas were declared.
A start has been made on implementing the Clean Air Act, the Council
having in principle decided to cover the area in stages in the next ten years.
Again I must acknowledge the valuable work done by the various voluntary
bodies for the benefit of the elderly people of the district.
This year has been a busy one in the department and I must acknowledge
my gratitude to Mr. Thomas and other members of the staff for their willing
co-operation and help.