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7
BOROUGH OF ROMFORD.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the
Romford Borough Council.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
I have the honour, herewith, to present to you an Interim
Annual Report on the Health of the District for the year 1939. This
Report is drawn up in accordance with the requirements of Circular
2067 of the Ministry of Health, dated 19th July, 1940, which states
that, in view of the increasing pressure of work in the Public Health
Department of Local Authorities, and the need for strict economy
in the use of paper, the Minister considers that Interim Reports only
should be made for the year, and that the subject matter should be
curtailed to certain specified items. The Minister points out, however,
that suitable arrangements should be made for useful
preservation of all records, including the statistics to be supplied by
the Registrar General, in order that after the termination of the war
a report could be made dealing more fully with the period from the
beginning of 1939 to the end of the last complete year, giving
separate statistics for each year in order that the annual records may,
as far as practicable, be continuous and complete.
During the year 1939, the work of the Health Department has
been accomplished under difficult and trying conditions, for no sooner
did we attempt to settle down to our routine duties than we were
interrupted by a series of crises, which culminated in the outbreak of
war at the beginning of September. This necessitated a variation
of the duties of most members of the Staff, and I think it speaks
well for the industry of all individuals that this Report, could it have
been completed, would have shown a very successful year's work.
Every endeavour has been made to maintain normality in Preventive
Medicine, in spite of varying and adverse conditions, and, at the same
time, to put into operation a scheme for a Casualty Service, which
would prove effective in the event of Air Raid damage in this area.
As usual, my best thanks go to all members of my staff who,
each in his or her own sphere, have assisted in the compilation of
this Report, to my fellow officials for their kind assistance throughout
the year, and to all the members of the Council who have shown
continued interest in the health of the inhabitants of the town.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES B. SAMSON,
Public Health Department, Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Romford.
July, 1940.