View report page

It was conclusively shown, however, by speakers at the 4th Commonwealth
Health and Tuberculosis Conference held in London in 1955, and
which your Medical Officer attended, that all these methods of preventing
and treating tuberculosis will be unavailing without the maintenance
of a high standard of nutrition and housing, and good working conditions
in business and industry. The ravages of tuberculosis found in war-torn
Europe and in peoples living on low standards of hygiene and nutrition
are only too well known. Every effort must be made by governments to
maintain the standard of the public health at as high a level as possible,
if tuberculosis is to recede in the way we hope.
The ending of meat rationing in July 1954, which thus ended all
restrictions on the purchase of food, paved the way for one more step
to a higher standard of nutrition.
Taking the year as a whole, and the light incidence of so many diseases,
the Corporation can be congratulated on having completed a year in
which the population enjoyed excellent health.
During 1954, the swimming bath at Beddington Orphanage (now
Carew Manor School) was again brought into use to provide swimming
facilities for residents in the Borough and for school children. The
administrative arrangements were the same as have operated in previous
years, and financial arrangements were made with the Surrey County
Council, who proved very helpful in co-operating with the Corporation
to make these excellent swimming facilities possible. Unfortunately,
owing to the inclement weather, which prevailed during the greater part
of the summer, the number of attendances was lower than in the previous
year, and the expenditure to be borne by the rate fund was proportionately
higher.
In conclusion, I wish to place on record my appreciation of the loyal
service and valuable assistance I have received from all the members
of my staff throughout the year.
I have the honour to be,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
PATRICK J. O'CONNELL,
July, 1955. Medical Officer of Health.
12