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PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
92, BATH ROAD,
HOUNSLOW.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Heston and Isleworth,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the health, vital statistics and sanitary circumstances
of the Borough for the year 1949. The report has been prepared on the lines suggested in Ministry
of Health Circular 2/50 and for convenience the larger statistical tables have been grouped together at the
end of the report.
The report covers fewer matters than formerly because there is no reference to the services which
were transferred to the County Council and Regional Hospital Board under the National Health Service
Act, 1946. Of the services transferred from the Council, the priority dental service for expectant and
nursing mothers, young children and school children has suffered severely and any prospect of recovery
is remote. The other services have not lost the momentum they had acquired prior to 5th July, 1948,
but it is too early to say whether they are to gain fresh impetus under the new administration. During
the year certain duties in regard to the production and heat treatment of milk were transferred from the
Borough Council to the Ministry of Agriculture and the County Council.
Excepting the year 1941 the birth rate is the lowest in the Borough records, but it is gratifying
to note a marked reduction in the proportion of stillbirths. The general death rate still compares favourably
with that for England and Wales and heart disease and cancer continue to occupy leading places among the
causes of death. The infant mortality rate shows a striking fall and is considerably lower than any rate
previously recorded in the Borough.
Poliomyelitis was less prevalent than in 1947 and 1948, but still sufficiently frequent to be disquieting.
Though the death rate from tuberculosis was the lowest in the Borough records the number
of notifications was the highest in the last ten years. Improved methods of diagnosis and the continued
search for the early symptomless case are showing up our lack of adequate facilities for treatment. No
Borough resident has died from diphtheria since 1946, and for the first time in any year no case of this
disease occurred. This is a fitting record for the 20th year of our immunisation campaign and it is to be
hoped that parents will co-operate by continuing to have their children protected. Other infectious
diseases showed little change from previous years.
A considerable volume of work has been carried out by the Sanitary Inspectors. Their day-to-day
efforts to maintain and improve environmental conditions and to safeguard our food supply present no
high lights but a study of the Report will show that their labour has not been fruitless.
The work of the Department is closely linked with other departments of the Council and throughout
the year the officers of other Departments have given generously of their help and advice. I would like
to take this opportunity to express to my staff my thanks for their loyal co-operation and to acknowledge
with gratitude the support and encouragement received from the Council.
I remain,
Your obedient Servant,
A. ANDERSON,
Medical Officer of Health-
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