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TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF
THE HEALTH COMMITTEE
My Lady, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I present herewith a report on the health and the Health
Services of the Borough during 1956, and again by courtesy of
the County Medical Officer, I give details of the Personal Health
Services.
A comparison is given of the changing picture of health and
disease in the Borough over the past twenty-seven years.
The vital statistics are again favourable and there are new
low records in regard to infant mortality, which for the first time
has fallen below 20, still-births and deaths of infants in the neo-natal
period.
A table is given showing the cancer deaths rate for England
6? Wales and Walthamstow, and also in regard to fatal accidents
in the home.
Reference is made to the increase in the work in regard to
institutional accommodation for the aged and chronic sick and to
the cases requiring consideration for possible compulsory removal
under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
In accordance with the appropriate legislation, the former
Sanitary Inspectors are now designated Public Health Inspectors.
During the year consideration was given to the increase in
the number of Student Public Health Inspectors. Reference is
made to smoke abatement, attendance of Public Health Inspectors
at special courses, and the special report of the London and Home
Counties Smoke Abatement Advisory Council.
Reference is also made to the Walthamstow Corporation Act
and those sections dealing with the provision of bathrooms, to the
speedier repair of defective premises, sealing of drains and sewers
before the demolition of property, storage for street trading purposes,
the restoration of water supplies, and the regulations in
regard to the premises of hairdressers and barbers.
A summary is given of the progress in the clearance of unfit
houses, and it is of interest to note that over two-thirds of the
properties included in the five-year programme have already been
represented for demolition.
The Housing Manager contributes a report in regard to
rehousing in Walthamstow and acknowledgment must be made of
his helpful co-operation in regard to all cases with a medical aspect,
and especially the rehousing of the tuberculous.