View report page

5
near future, therefore, a modern and vastly improved means of
dealing with this highly important matter will be instituted.
The first Health Week to take place in West Ham was
held (in conjunction with the Insurance Committee) from
October 4th to 10th, details of the arrangements made
are to be found in the body of this report. That the
event proved very successful, was due in large measure to the
whole-hearted co-operation of all those who were approached
to help make it so.
A new Municipal Ante-Natal and Child Welfare Clinic will
soon be opened in the Stratford District. It has also been
decided to appoint a Lady Doctor to assist in Maternity and
Child Welfare work.
A Sanatorium for children suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis
has been a long-felt need, arrangements are now completed
(and await the sanction of the Ministry of Health) for
the erection on your Langdon Hills site, of an Institution to
accommodate 40 tuberculous children.
A proposal to build an open-air swimming bath in West
Ham Park is now under consideration, and it is to be hoped
that this much desired measure will be achieved in due course.
A scheme has been prepared for the establishment of a
colony at Ockenden to accommodate 500 mental defectives,
and it seems probable that this scheme will soon receive official
sanction.
In my last Annual Report I expressed the hope that this
year would see some definite improvements in respect to the
amelioration and safeguarding of the health of the populace.
A study of the contents of this Report will prove that my
hope was not ill-founded. I am hopeful of still further improvements,
though it must be borne well in mind that the in
auguration of health measures of various kinds will not, of
itself, produce healthy citizens; this can only be achieved in the
course of time by studious and painstaking attention to all
matters, both great and small, which tend to raise or lower
the general health of the community, either individually or
collectively. It is essential also that the inhabitants should
make the best possible use of the health facilities afforded to
them.
I am indebted to the Council and to all the members of my
staff for their loyal help in enabling me to carry out the
manifold duties of this Department.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
F. GARLAND COLLINS,
M.R.C.S. (Eng.), L.R.C.P. (Lond.), D.P.H.,
Medical Officer of Health.