London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Heston and Isleworth 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
92, BATH ROAD,
HOUNSLOW.
To the Mayor, Alderman 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 1950. The report has been prepared on lines suggested by the Ministry
of Health and for convenience the larger statistical tables have been grouped together at the end
of the report. Since the inauguration of the National Health Service there has been continuous floodlighting
of the curative services and though the prevention of disease appears to have been relegated to
a minor role its importance should not be forgotten.
The birth rate is the lowest on record and if the low rate continues serious social changes will appear
in the future. The death rate and the incidence of infectious diseases compare favourably with previous
years. The very low infant mortality rate of 1949 has not been maintained but the rate for 1950 is still
below the average of recent years. From time to time adverse comment is made on the nutritional state
of the people. In 1950 the British Medical Association published their Report of the Committee on
Nutrition. This report revealed that there are gaps in the knowledge of the science of nutrition and in
our supervision of the nutrition of sections of the population but the main conclusion was that by no
standard known to medical science is there any evidence that the physical health of the people has suffered
from any known dietary deficiency. In this connection the following table on food consumption published
in Ministry Food Bulletin No. 611 is of interest :—
| 1934-38 average | 1950 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy products (excluding butter) total as milk solids | 38.3 | 53.9 |
| Meat (including canned meat, bacon and ham) (as edible weight) | 109.6 | 95.4 |
| Fish, poultry and game (edible weight) | 32.8 | 27.7 |
| Eggs and egg products (shell egg equivalent) | 28.6 | 31.7 |
| Oils and fats (fat content) | 45.3 | 44.9 |
| Sugar and syrups (sugar content) | 109.9 | 80.8 |
| Potatoes | 176.0 | 242.5 |
| Pulses and nuts | 9.6 | 11.1 |
| Fruit (including tomatoes) (fresh equivalent) | 141.4 | 129.6 |
| Vegetables | 107.5 | 102.7 |
| Grain products | 210.1 | 221.3 |
| Tea, coffee and cocoa | 14.7 | 13.0 |
Health is not only a matter of absence of disease and adequate nutrition. It is influenced by social and
environmental conditions, and there is considerable evidence of "social sickness" in our family and
communal life. The shortage of houses is an important factor, but there are many others needing attention
in the creation of a healthy, stable and well adjusted community.
Attention to environmental conditions during the year was severely restricted by shortage of Sanitary Inspectors, and this is reflected in comparison with the previous year as shown below:-
| 1949 | 1950 | |
|---|---|---|
| General inspections re nuisance, etc. | 24,463 | 18,921 |
| Smoke observations | 202 | 37 |
| Inspections of factories, etc. | 1,214 | 881 |
| Housing inspections | 546 | 419 |
| Inspections re ice cream | 867 | 331 |
| Ice Cream samples tested | 147 | — |
| Inspections of meat and other foods | 2,010 | 1,936 |
| Inspections of food premises | 1,423 | 1,155 |
The Chief Sanitary Inspector and his assistants have worked hard to maintain the service and I am pleased
to record that the staff shortage has now been made good.
Throughout the year full co-operation and help was received from other Departments of the Council.
I would like to express thanks to my staff for their loyal co-operation and to the Council for support and
encouragement.
I remain,
Your obedient Servant,
A. ANDERSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
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