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Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for the year 1956.
There was a further small decrease in the population which was estimated by the
Registrar General as 167,000 at the mid-year. Although a slowly declining trend has been
evident for some years now, it is important to keep it in perspective. The highest level
reached by the returning population after the war was 173,800 in 1948 and 1949; and a sharp
drop of 2,700 in the census year of 1951 suggests that this peak figure may have been a
little over-estimated. At most, therefore, the fall has been about 6,800, or slightly more
that four per cent, in seven years. Moreover, the optimum population assumed for planning
purposes was about 165,000, so that some limited continuation in the process of population
adjustment might even be regarded as a healthy sign.
The birth-rate was slightly higher than in the previous year. The death-rate, infant
mortality and maternal mortality all showed small increases which were unwelcome but not of
a degree or nature to give rise to immediate concern.
The outstanding experience in relation to infectious disease was the rather disturbing
increase of dysentery. This was in keeping with the national trend of recent years which has
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not yet been satisfactorily explained. The West Ham figures were more than double those of
the previous year, largely due to two. outbreaks affecting respectively the Occupation Centre
and an infants school: investigations brought to light a number of unsuspected cases outside.
Fortunately, the disease is usually mild, though that may imply that some cases go unrecognised,
and it seems that dysentery may be more than usually prevalent for some time to come. By
contrast, the incidence of food poisoning and other bowel infections remained low.
There is little comment required on the other infectious diseases. The two cases of
diphtheria occurred early in the year towards the end of the episode described in last year's
Annual Report: the Borough has since remained free to the time of writing. We had a favourable
experience of poliomyelitis, having only three confirmed cases and no deaths during a
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year when the national figures were rather high. Finally, there was a gratifying reduction in
the number of cases and deaths from tuberculosis: it is to be hoped that this will become a
set trend.
In the other sections of the Report the Chief Public Health Inspector gives interesting
accounts of the main provisions of the new Clean Air Act, 1956, (Page 19) and of some problems
encountered in the operation of the Food Hygiene Regulations 1955 (Page 25 onwards). The
section on the Care of Mothers and Young Children contains on page 50 a summary of an enterPrising
local survey of vitamin intakes during infancy; and the results of the first full
year's working of the Audiology Unit appear on the following page. The survey, in particular,
was of importance in demonstrating to the staff that further adjustments in the vitamin
supplements given to infants would be desirable.
The most notable event in relation to the School Health Service was the closure of
Pyfield Residential Open Air School. This marked the culmination of many years of social
progress which has led to the virtual disappearance of the physically "delicate" child.
Nevertheless, the school was still serving an important purpose by affording some children a
period of relief from family tensions or other unfavourable home situations. It may not,
Perhaps, have been the best possible way of meeting that need, but it cannot be entirely
replaced by "convalescent" provision, and suitable alternatives on a more modest scale will
soon require consideration.
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