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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 1958, on behalf of my predecessor
in office, Dr. E.J. Maclntyre.
The general health of the community was good. The estimated
population showed an increase of two hundred and fifty. The birth
rate increased from 12.3 to 13.1 per thousand of population. The
death rate rose slightly from 11.3 to 12.3 per thousand of
population. The infantile mortality rate was lower. There was
one maternal death.
There was a lower incidence of infectious diseases. There
were fewer cases of Measles, Whooping Cough, Pneumonia, Dysentery
and Food Poisoning. Two cases of Poliomyelitis were notified.
No case of Diphtheria occurred. A Mass X-Ray Unit visited the
Borough in January for one week, with good result.
The council's Housing Programme is limited by scarcity of
sites. Consequently slum clearance is retarded. Forty one new
houses or flats were completed during the year. At the end of the
year thirty four houses or flats were planned or under construction.
In addition an allocation of fifty properties has been made
at Frimley and Camberley under the Town Expansion Scheme for
occupation between 1959 and 1962.
The work of sanitation, of the prevention of nuisances and
of the protection of food was efficiently carried out under the
direction of the Chief Public Health inspector, Mr. A.S. Williams,
to whom I am indebted for his helpful collaboration.
Work on the second stage of the reconstruction of the Worcester
Park Sewage Works has not proceeded as quickly as planned, but it
is anticipated that the new Sludge Digestion Tank will now be completed
during 1959. Meantime the design of Stage III is proceeding.
The water supply of the district maintained a high standard
of chemical and bacteriological purity. Effective control by
sampling and by chlorlnatlon was continued.
Thanks are due to the Members of the Council for their
advice and help during the year and to the Officers of the Council
for their co-operation.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN C. BIRCHALL
Medical Officer of Health
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