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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 for the year 1956. The report has
been prepared on the lines suggested by the Ministry of Health and the larger statistical
tables have been grouped together at the end of the report.
The birth rate continues well below the national rate and now closely approximates
to the local death rate The local death rate remains slightly lower than the
national rate. The chief causes of death are cancer and degenerative diseases of
the circulatory system. Cancer of the lung continues to. increase and evidence is
steadily accumulating on the close association of this condition with smoking, especially
of cigarettes. On, thinking of preventable deaths, accidents immediately come
to mind Some accidental deaths among old persons are probably inevitable but
greater care at home and at work could avoid not only deaths but much disability.
Deaths from accidental poisoning and ignition of clothing in children should not occur.
Care, courtesy and consideration by all road users is the real solution of road
traffic accidents.
The incidence of infectious disease generally was low throughout the year. It
is pleasing to record that the numbers of children vaccinated against smallpox and
inoculated against diphtheria and whooping cough showed an increase as compared with
1955 A start was made in the protection of children against poliomyelitis by the
use of the British vaccine. The demand for protection was high, but the amount of
vaccine available was small, and at the end of the year relatively few children had
been treated It is hoped that steadily increasing quantities of vaccine will
become available, but some time must elapse before the degree of protection can be
assessed.
New cases of pulmonary tuberculosis are being found in the middle and older age
groups in greater proportion than in the past. Admittedly the incidence and fatality
of this disease are falling, but the undiscovered infective case remains the chief
source of infection. Modern methods of treatment have greatly improved the outlook
in this disease and no person developing a cough, loss of appetite or loss of weight
should hesitate to have an X-ray of the lungs. The mass X-ray unit at West Middlesex
Hospital is available to all without appointment.
The coming into operation of the Pood Hygiene Regulations marked an important
step in the campaign against food infections. A guide to the Regulations was supplied
to all firms handling food and the Inspectors paid visits to discuss problems, give
advice and survey premises. Co-operation by the trade has been good and the public
must have noticed the steady improvement in food premises and catering establishments.
Advances in design of premises, in provision of washing and storage facilities, in
methods of display and handling are important but must be supported by hygienic habits
among the persons employed in the handling of food. The public can help by refusing
patronage where they see faults in food hygiene, but personal hygiene is a matter of
education and should begin in the home.
Increasing attention has been given to the problem of unfit houses. There are
no large aggregations of such houses in the Borough, and the demolition of unfit
houses will provide no sites on which many new houses can be erected. The long continued
occupation of houses after they have been declared unfit by the Council is a
matter of some concern and it is hoped that as new houses become available, the
vacation of unfit houses may be expedited.
The volume of official and voluntary work on the care and welfare of the aged
grows. These efforts vary widely in their nature, range and scope and any scheme
designed to improve co-operation among the many agencies "concerned should be welcomed
and supported.
During the year an Act was passed to provide that Sanitary Inspectors shall, in
future, be designated Public Health Inspectors, The word 'sanitary' has come to have
a restricted meaning and the change in designation indicates the wide nature of the
work of these inspectors and emphasises that they are an essential and integral part
of the local public health team Problems associated with the diagnosis and treatment
of existing disease have received much prominence since the introduction of the
National Health Service, but the maintenance of good living and environmental conditions
as a contribution to the prevention of disease should not be forgotten. Under proposals
made by the Minister of Health, the Public Health Inspectors Education Board has
been established with the following objects:-
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