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INTRODUCTION BY THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
Telephone No:
Elmbridge 6441-8. Ext.25.
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
2, SHALSTON VILLAS,
SURBITON.
June 1959.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Surbiton.
Annual Report 1958.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report on the
Public Health and Social conditions of the Borough for 1958.
The Report is compiled in accordance with Ministry of
Health Circular No. 22/58. and follows a similar pattern to
that for 1957.
The health of the people has been good, and steady
progress has been made throughout the year in projects
towards prevention of disease and safeguarding food supplies.
Population; The home population as given by the RegistrarGeneral
is 63,550, an increase of 440 on the figures for 1957.
This compares most favourably with an increase of 500 in 1956
and continues the trend of recent years.
Infectious Diseases; The number of infectious disease
notifications received in 1958 was 450 compared with 1,160
for 1957. This was not a heavy Measles year and the number
of dysentery cases was much less than the previous year.
I must once again make special reference to the freedom
from diphtheria in the Borough since 1946, which is unquestionably
due to the efforts of the general medical practitioners, clinics,
and all engaged in this work, and shows what a vital and worthwhile
work diphtheria immunisation is.
Vaccination against Poliomyelitis: The progressive campaign
to immunise the population against poliomyelitis was carried
forward by the introduction of additional priority groups and
the importation of supplies of American and Canadian vaccine
to supplement the increasing flow of vaccine from British
manufacturers.
A good response from the people to the invitation to be
vaccinated was forthcoming but much more has to be done before
it can be considered that the population is protected.
No new cases of poliomyelitis were notified in Surbiton
during the year.
2.