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7
BOROUGH OF ROMFORD
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the
Borough of Romford.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
I have the honour, herewith, to present to you this, my Annual
Report on the Health of the district for the year 1945.
This is the Twelfth Report in the series, since I was appointed
your Medical Officer of Health, and it is drawn up in accordance
with the requirements of Articles 6 (3), and 17 (5) of the Sanitary
Officers' (Outside London) Regulations, 1935, as modified by Circular
28/46 of the Ministry of Health, dated 11th February, 1946.
This Circular again states that the Report should be an Interim
one.
In his Report for the year 1932, the Chief Medical Officer of
the Ministry of Health stated that "The surest of all tests of grave
results are the Mortality Returns. Any long sustained physical
pressure or stress of serious degree represents itself ultimately
in a rise in Mortality, particular or general." In view, therefore,
of the physical pressure and strain of serious degree that we have
experienced since 1939, I think that this Council can congratulate
itself on the Health Services, which it has maintained and extended
throughout the years of war; the benefits of which are reflected
in the low mortality returns for this area. Furthermore, it should
also be borne in mind that the returns would have been even
lower, had we not had to include deaths directly attributable to
war injuries.
Once again, I have pleasure in reporting that there was no
death in the district of a mother, arising out of confinement, although
one maternal death occurred outside the district, and has
to be recorded in this area, under the arrangements for the recording
of transferable deaths.
In conclusion, my best thanks go to all members of my staff,
who have assisted in the work of the Department, and in the
compilation of this report, to my fellow officials for their kind
assistance during the year; and to all the Members of the Council,
who have shown sympathetic consideration of our difficulties, and
a continued interest in the well-being of the inhabitants of this
town.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES B. SAMSON,
Public Health Department, Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Romford.
May. 1946.