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BOROUGH OF BRENTFORD AND CHISWICK
Public Health Department,
Town Hall Chiswick, W. 4
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the 33rd Annual Report on the health of the
people of Brentford and Chiswick,
An analysis of the vital statistics for 1960 shows that this was a very
good year in respect of the health of the citizens of the Borough.
There was a fall in the death rate and a rise in the birth rate. The
infant mortality rate was the lowest yet recorded in the Borough and there was
a fall in the notifications of tuberculosis combined with the figure of only
one death from tuberculosis in the year. Notifications of cases of infectious
disease were reduced in number and there were no cases of poliomyelitis or diphtheria.
Some figures however were not so satisfactory. There was still a
heavy incidence of deaths from circulatory diseases and cancer. There was a
rise in the deaths from accidents and there was a rise in the number of premature
births.
A small outbreak of Sonne' dysentery principally in school children had to
be dealt with and the opportunity was taken to ask for minor improvements in the
sanitary provisions in some of the older schools,
Provision of amenities and better social conditions for elderly people
living alone were increased during the year. Middlesex County Council made
provision for an increase in the chiropody service for old people. The Mealson-Wheels
Service was augmented by the provision of a second van for transporting
these meals.
The first Smoke Control Area comprising 300 acres in the south-eastern
part of the Borough became operative on 1st May I960, and so the first steps
in the provision of a clean atmosphere for the Borough were taken,
A considerable amount of progress was made with the Slum Clearance programme
started in 1955. This programme can only proceed as fast as new building or
conversion of large houses into smaller flats can keep pace with the need for
rehousing of the people rendered homeless if their dwellings are demolished.
To maintain a state of good health in a population, constant vigilance is
required. It can be seen from the "Table of Inspections" that the number of
visits rose considerably during the year. The good work done by the many voluntary
associations contributes in no small part to the physical and mental well
being of the people and I am grateful to all who have submitted information of
their work for inclusion in this Report and also to the officials of the Statutory
Bodies who have also supplied information.
May I also thank the Chairman and the Members of the Public Health Committee
for their support during the year and also the Chief Public Health Inspector,
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