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Public Health Department.
Town Hall,
Wallington.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Beddington and Wallington.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I submit my report for the year ending 31st December, 1941.
The year under review, the second whole year of war, was notable
for many important events, some of which had a direct bearing upon
the work of the public health services of the Borough.
After a very strenuous winter period, with almost continual heavy
bombing raids, the last big raid took place on 15th May. Following
this date, the general tension of the community relaxed, and the
public air raid shelters, which had previously given some concern
to the Department, on health grounds, ceased to be used, except by
a small percentage of the population. Since this date also, there has
been a gradual return of former residents to the district, and a
reopening of many houses. In many parts of Beddington and
Wallington housing accommodation is now extremely limited, and one
of the most important future problems, which the.Borough will have
to face, is housing.
No figures are quoted in this Report giving specific details of rise
and fall in the population, as the Minster • of Health has given
instructions that statistical information regarding populations shall,
for security reasons, be excluded from the annual reports of MedicalOfficers
of Health.
During the year, infectious diseases in the town did not assume
large proportions. The number of cases occurring was-average, with
only one disease, measles, showing slightly increased prevalence.
The Corporation's maternity and child welfare schemes continued
to occupy a most important place in the health services. The
attendances at Maternity and Child Welfare Centres showed the
increasing appreciation, of resident# in the Borough of the Corporation's
scheme. In co-operation with the Food Executive Officer and
the Minister of Health, vitamin products were distributed at the
Centres during the year. No. cases of malnutrition or of vitamin
deficiency were noted amongst children in attendance. The examination
of patients at the Centres, and also at the Ante-natal Clinics,
showed that the nutritional state of the community is being maintained
at a high level, in spite of the exigencies of war.
The infantile mortality rate for the year was especially low, being
21.13 per thousand, as compared with 34.88 for the previous year and
59 for the country as a whole. This figure reflects great credit upon
all the services of the Corporation, dealing with infant life.
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