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Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for the year 1958.
The Registrar General's estimate of the population at mid-year was 165,000. This
was 900 fewer than in the previous year, and gave a total decrease of 8,800 from the post
war peak of 1949. Over the nine years, the fall has amounted to about 5%
There was a further small increase in the birth rate and a small deoline in the
death rate. The infant mortality was also slightly below the record low figure of last
year. A disturbing feature of the statistics however was the increase by more than two
thirds in the number of stillbirths.. As will be seen from the brief discussion on
page 56, the causes were not clear: they could probably only be elucidated, if they
persist, by joint enquiry of the Hospital and Local Authority Health Services.
The increased prevalence of dysentery and food poisoning also gave rise to some
concern. The cases were mostly sporadio in nature or were spread within a family, but
there were two outbreaks of dysentery affecting infant and junior schools in different
parts of the Borough. Between them they accounted for 57 cases (21 pupils and 7 family
contacts in one instance; and 21 pupils and 8 family contacts in the other). Both
were quickly brought under control by energetic action in co-operation with the teachers
and other school staff. The rise in dysentery was part of a national trend which has
so far found no adequate explanation.
By contrast, it is pleasing to report that there have been no cases of diphtheria
since the small outbreak at the end of 1956 and early in 1957- The poliomyelitis incidence
was also low, with only three cases though unfortunately there was one death.
In the section of the report contributed by the Chief Public Health Inspector, an account
is given on page 16 of our first experience of an industrial radiological hazard, which was
fortunately pursued to a satisfactory conclusion through the prompt and effective action of
the Public Health Inspectors and colleagues in other Departments. On the following pages
there is a summary of the provisions governing the establishment of smoke control areas
followed by a brief outline of the first proposal of this kind to be put forward by the
Counoil under the Clean Air Act.
On pages 48 to 51 will be found the description of a new service for the care of
handicapped pre-school children. Hitherto the community health services have been concerned
with the handicapped child mainly in relation to the special educational problem arising
during school life, but it has become increasingly recognised in recent years that this
approach was far too restricted. Even with the extension of the Education Act provisions
to include children as young as two years, vital opportunities were often missed for helping
the child to make the best of his handicap during the earlier formative years; and It was
already too late at that age to help the family in adjusting to the strains arising from
the arrival of a baby who was found to be without the capacity for normal development. In
many cases also special educational treatment Is not the kind of provision which Is best
suited to the early management of the particular handicap.
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