View report page

(2)
part in creating a picture of adult behaviour which is associated with
non-smoking rather than smoking. This sort of co-operation will be
necessary if any campaign is to be effective.
Adequate housing has for many years been accepted as a
fundamental requirement for a healthy family. This is a concept upon
which local authority housing is based and acceptable standards have
risen with successive legislative measures, Thus we are not now in
this district dealing with gross deficiencies and overcrowding (though
these are occasionally encountered) but with more subtle aspects of the
home environment as it affects health. Many housing applicants produce
medical certificates in support of their claim for priority of rehousing.
Evaluation of the relative merits of such supporting factors is by no
means an easy task and much time is given to detailed consideration of
each case. The help of family doctors is necessary as well as the cooperation
of the Housing Manager. It is sometimes difficult for
applicants to perceive that medical priority can only be given in cases
where illness is substantially made worse by existing housing conditions
or where there is risk of spread of infection; and even where these
circumstances exist it is not possible for immediate rehousing to take
place. The adoption by the Council of the scheme whereby special
consideration is given to the housing needs of persons who are permanently
physically disabled has provided a means of helping them in circumstances
where no other source of assistance was available and has provided
practical assistance towards overcoming some of the disadvantages of
physical handicap.
The rates of birth and death in the Borough remain more or less
constant from year to year. The increase in the birth rate which
followed World War II and then declined has to some extent been restored
though in this district it remains at a level considerably below that of
the national figure. This is no doubt a reflection upon the percentage
of residents of child-bearing age when compared with the country as a
whole. It is interesting to note that of the deaths registered
during the year were of persons of 80 or more years of age and that of
178 deaths in this group only 43 were males compared with 135 females.
In the tables and comment which follow will be found a summary
of statistics relating to these and other matters, while the report of
the Chief Public Health Inspector presents a summary of the extensive
routine visiting and sampling which is carried out in the Borough by
his staff. Such vigilance continues to be necessary and indeed the
routine work of the Inspectors increases with each successive year.