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 1954. The report has been prepared
on the lines suggested by the Ministry of Health and for convenience the larger statistical tables have
been grouped together at the end of the report.
The birth rate was the lowest in the Borough records and the death rate remained at the generally
low level of recent years. The incidence of infectious disease was low and for the first time since 1943
no case of poliomyelitis was notified. It is to be regretted that parents are not making better use of the
free facilities for the vaccination and immunisation of their children. The infant mortality rate showed
a considerable rise as compared with the previous three years. If this rate is to be kept under control,
continued effort must be applied to protecting young babies from infection and to the search for measures
to reduce prematurity, birth asphyxia and birth injuries.
The work of the Department in regard to housing, nuisances, environmental conditions and food
hygiene continued. The day-to-day attention to these matters presents no highlights and seldom catches
the public eye. The cumulative effect can best be appreciated by comparing conditions today with those
existing, say, at the beginning of the century. Such backward glances provide encouragement for the
staff concerned and a stimulus to continue where immediate results cannot always be seen.
The reports of Government Departments show that illness, by loss of production and cost of
treatment, places a very heavy burden on the community. This is a matter of special importance in a
country whose standard of living is dependent on its production capacity. Attention must be given
not only to the causes of death, but to those conditions producing temporary and chronic ill-health.
Health can be described as physical and mental well-being and the importance of the latter is being
realised more and more. Advances have been made and many admissions to mental hospitals are now
only temporary. The volume of mental ill-health of such a nature as not to require admission to hospital
is considerable and is often of the nature of disorders of human relationships. It is being appreciated
to an increasing extent that our capacity to live and work in harmonious relations with others is influenced
largely by the circumstances of our upbringing during the formative years of childhood. A good home
environment and a firm and stable family background provide the right conditions in childhood for the
development of sound human relationships and social responsibility. A little thought by most of us
will show that our adult attitudes to many aspects of life are coloured by our childhood experience.
Here is a growing field for preventive work requiring the full co-operation of parents and the medical
and teaching professions. Here, as in other health matters, progress comes not from Acts of Parliament,
but. from the desire and acceptance of responsibility by the citizens individually and collectively.
I have pleasure in thanking all other Departments for their generous co-operation. The loyal
and willing assistance given by all members of my staff has been of great value 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