View report page

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 for the year 1953. The Regulations made by
the Minister of Health concerning the duties of the Medical Officer of Health of a municipal borough
state, inter alia, that he "shall as soon as practicable after the 31st day of December in each year make
an annual report to the local authority for the year ending on that date on the sanitary circumstances,
the sanitary administration and the vital statistics of the district, containing in addition to any other
matters upon which he may consider it desirable to report, such information as may from time to time
be required by the Minister and furnish the Minister with as many copies of such report as the Minister
may from time to time require." There is little room for variety in the presentation of such reports,
but their preparation and study give an opportunity for an annual " stocktaking " and over a period
of years they provide a yardstick for measuring changes in environmental conditions and in the health
of the people.
The birth rate has risen a little, but is still below the rate for the country; the death rate remains
fairly steady; the infant mortality rate remained below 20 and there has been a considerable fall in the
death rate from tuberculosis. No case of diphtheria occurred and the incidence of infectious diseases
generally was low. The work recorded in the report deals mainly with environmental conditions and,
though this aspect of preventive medicine has been overshadowed in recent years by the attention given
to the hospital and other treatment services, it must be maintained and developed.
According to the Registrar-General, the expectation of life, on the basis of the death rates in
England and Wales for 1952, is now for a boy at birth 67.06 years, and for a girl 72.35, as compared
with 48.53 and 52.38 years respectively on the basis of the death rates for the years 1901-1910. To be
of any real value, a longer life must be a healthy life. Without any special effort by the individual
citizen, a great improvement has been brought about in his physical environment. Now he would appear
to be looking to the National Health Service to carry the burden of his ill-health. The civil estimates
reveal in stark figures something of the cost to the nation of ill-health and it is a strange circumstance
that this cost can only be met by the continued consumption of tobacco and alcohol, neither of which
contribute to health. Little thought is needed to appreciate that real progress towards "complete physical,
mental and social well-being," can be made only to the extent that the individual is interested and active
in the maintenance of his own and his neighbours' health.
I have pleasure in thanking all other Departments for their generous co-operation. My staff
have continued their loyal and willing assistance, and I would like to thank the Council for their
encouragement and support.
I remain,
Your obedient servant,
A. ANDERSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
4