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Mr.Mayor, Ladles and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for the year 1957.
The slow decrease In the population continued. According to the Registrar General's
estimates, there were 1,100 fewer people in the Borough this year than in 1956, giving a
population of 165,900 at the mid-year. The total fall since the post war peak of 173,800
in 1949 is now 7,900, or about per cent in eight years.
There was a small increase in the birth rate and a small drop in the death rate, but
neither were of any significance. More gratifying was the decrease in the infant mortality
to 19.31 and in the stillbirth rate to 17.85; in both instances these were the lowest figures
recorded. The maternal mortality also declined, but it is based on such small numbers that
caution must be exercised in drawing conclusions.
There was nothing remarkable in the year's experience of infectious disease. Scarlet
fever increased, and this was a "measles year"; but neither gave a figure beyond the normal
range of variation. Poliomyelitis rose a little, during a period of heavy national
prevalence, without causing any local deaths. Dysentery dropped to less than one sixth
of the previous year's rate, despite the persistence of a high level in the country as a
whole. Finally, the gratifying decline in the incidence of tuberculosis continued during
the year. Although this was accompanied by a small increase in deaths, the total remains
so low that the position can nevertheless be considered a favourable one.
Several changes took place in the senior medical and nursing staff during the year.
Dr.Furniss, the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer, retired in December after 32½
years service; and Dr.Florentin, the Senior Assistant Medical Officer for Maternity
and Child Welfare took over his responsibilities in addition to her own, with a view to
the closer integration of the child health services. Dr.Jacobs was appointed as
Administrative Medical Officer to assist her.
Miss Fraquet, West Ham's first Superintendent Nursing Officer, retired in July after
nine years active development of the Borough nursing services. Again the opportunity was
taken to revise the establishment as experience indicated. When Miss Pettit succeeded to
the post it became predominently administrative and organisational. Her deputy, Miss
Hazelden, was given the title of Superintendent Health Visitor with responsibility for the
current supervision of health visitors and school nurses; while Miss Evans was appointed
to the vacant post of Non-Medical Supervisor of Midwlves and Home Nunses with similar
responsibilities in her own field. This clear definition of function in place of a rather
loose distribution of duties is already showing promise of greater efficiency.
Three of the remaining school nurses also retired. Miss Mann, Miss Hamaton and
Mrs.Poulson had between them nearly sixty years of service.
Our best wishes go with our retiring colleagues and we extend a most cordial welcome
to those who have Joined us.
Turning now to the main body of the Report, the Chief Public Health Inspector comments
upon the operation of, or preparation for, three important legislative measures, the Clean
Air Act, 1956 (p.19), the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955 (p.26) and the Rent Act, 1957 (p.30).
The latter, although only coming into force in the middle of the year, immediately plunged
the Public Health Inspection Section of the Department into a mass of work in dealing with
applications for Certificates of Disrepair. It is greatly to the credit of the staff that
the requirements were met without delays.
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