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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Sutton and Cheam.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the Annual Report on the
health of the Borough for the year 1944,
The year is memorable for the courage and endurance of the
people under intensive air attacks from flying bombs. The loss of
life, the physical injury, and the strain of air raid alerts with
the constant oassage of noisy missiles were borne with a wonderful
fortitude.
Between the 16th June and 15th November, thirty-six flying bombs
fell within the Borough, Sixty-six persons were killed, and seven
hundred and twenty-four persons were injured. One hundred and
eighty-seven houses were destroyed or damaged beyond repair and
eighteen thousand nine hundred and ninety-one houses suffered lesser
degrees of damage.
Extensive organised evacuation of expectant mothers mothers with
young children and of school children was carried out. while private
evacuation proceeded si-niltaneously, leaving a resident population of
a^oroximatel7f forty eight thousand.
The immediate effect of the loss of homes for the oeople was to
some extent and for the time being relieved by the extent of evacuation,
by concurrent first aid reoairs to houses, by rest centres, by
requisitioning'and by billeting, but a very serious problem of housing
involving overcrowding, debased hygienic standards, and a disruption
of family life remains as an aftermath requiring urgent remedy in the
interests of the public health.
The higher death rate reflects the number of deaths from enemy
action. The total number of births was lower, and the higher birth
rate is derived from the lower estimate of total population at mid
year while evacuation was in progress.
The infantile and maternal mortality rates remained low, desoite
the disturbance of population which created unusual risks for mothers
and babies.
The year was fortunately free from major epidemics. The general
incidence of infectious diseases, with the exception of Tuberculosis,
declined.
The work of general sanitation, of the prevention of nuisances,
and of the protection of food, which was greatly complicated by air
raid conditions, was efficiently carried out under tne direction of
the Chief Sanitary Inspector (Mr. C.W.Newbery) to whom with the
sanitary and clerical staff of the Public Health Deoart^ent I am
indebted for their constant devotion to duty.
The water supply of the district maintained a high standard of
ohemical and bacteriological ourity. Effective control by daily
samoling and by chlorination was continued. Localised damage to
water mains ana to the sewerage system were expeditiously dealt with
and precautions against incidental pollution or the water supply
were adequate.
The Council's Civil Ambulance, operated by Civil Defence personnel
throughout the year, provided an efficient service which carried on
uninterruptedly through many air attacks with commendable courage.
To all who served in rescue parties, First A'd Posts, Mobile Units,
in the ambulance service, and in the mortuary service, I would express
my admiration and aporeciation of the work they performed, I thank
tne medical practitioners of the Borough for tneir unfailing support
of the services at all times, the nurses and midwives of the district
for their steadfast courage in visiting patients, and the staffs of
the local hospitals for their unremitting care of the sick and wounded.
I thank members of the Council for their advice and assistance.
I am grateful to all the officers of the Council for their co-operation
and especially to Mr. N.H.Michell, the Controller of Civil Defence,
for his able guidance and help during the emergency.
I am,
Mr, Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
ENEAS J. MACINTYRE
Medical Officer of Health,
(3)