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BOROUGH OF BRENTFORD AND CHISWICK
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Chiswick, W.4.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors and
Members of the Education Committee of the
Borough of Brentford and Chiswick.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit an Annual Report on the Health
Services, School Medical Services and Sanitary Circumstances of
the District for the year 1946.
1946 was an eventful year in the development of the Health
Services of the Borough. It was the first year of peace, in which
the Health Services had to be resettled on a normal peace-time
basis. It marked the passing of the National Health Service
Act, which, when it takes effect, will transfer the control of the
personal health services to a new Local Health Authority, which
in your case will be the Middlesex County Council. Finally,
it was a year in which shortage of, and many changes, in staff
caused considerable difficulties in the smooth working of the
Health Services as a whole. Dr. Leaning, Medical Officer of
Health for 25 years, retired in March, 1946, and the Council put
on record this appreciation of his services—" The Mayor .
together with other members of the Council, paid tribute to the
conscientious and untiring and unselfish manner in which Dr.
Leaning had at all times carried out his duties during his 25
years' service with the Council. The Council, whilst appreciating
the loss which has been sustained by the Borough in the retirement
of Dr. Leaning, extended to him their sincere good wishes
for his future health and happiness." Until my appointment in
September, 1946, the duties of Medical Officer of Health were
carried out in a part-time capacity by Dr. Maddison, Medical
Officer of Health for Twickenham. He was assisted very ably
by Mr. Micklewright, Chief Sanitary Inspector, who continued
his good work with me in his last year of office, and I would be
failing in my duty if I omitted to pay tribute to his valuable
service. The Health Visitors and Office Staff were under
establishment for most of the year, but Miss A. M. Edwards
returned to the former, and Mr. R. A. James and Mr. P. G.
Smith to the latter, after their demobilisation.
The vital statistics may be regarded as satisfactory, the birth
rate of 23.6 being above the national figure of 19.1, and the death
rate of 11.1 being below the national figure of 11.5. The large
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