[Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health and Sanitary / Public Health Inspector, Peterborough City.

  • Peterborough (England). City Council. nr 94004832.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health and Sanitary / Public Health Inspector, Peterborough City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    To : The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the City of Peterborough. Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have pleasure in presenting to you the Annual Report on the health of the City of Peterborough for the year 1957. This Report covers the period during which my predecessor. Dr. G. Dison, was your Medical Officer of Health, and deals with matters which arose whilst he was still in office. The vital statistics, as seen on the following pages, continue to remain satisfactory and compare favourably with those issued by the Registrar General for England and Wales. It is pleasing to note that, once more, no cases of diphtheria were notified during the year. It is, however, only with the continued response of the public to the immunisation campaign that this pleasing state can be maintained. There were 3 cases of poliomyelitis notified during the year and one of these proved fatal. The poliomyelitis vaccination campaign has been most successful in securing the vaccination of 3,313 children during the year and it is hoped that, in time, it will prove as effective as the diphtheria immunisation campaign. The slum clearance programme has progressed very satisfactorily. It is unfortunate, however, that in the case of Compulsory Purchase Orders there is often some delay in demolition owing to the lapse of time between the re¬ housing of occupants and the conveyance of the properties to the Council, resulting in unsightly houses standing empty for some time. Vigilance must be kept regarding the caravan situation in the city. It is well controlled at present, but if this control were slackened in any way, it might well lead to a future multiplicity of “ shanty ” towns. It must also be clearly understood that a caravan is a poor substitute for a council house. Greater steps should also be taken to prevent overcrowding in “ Houses Let in Lodgings.” This overcrowding could greatly encourage the spread of infectious disease. Development has so far been impeded on the west side of the town owing to lack of adequate water and sewerage facilities. It is hoped that efforts will be made to expedite the completion of the schemes in hand. The City of Peterborough is a growing industrial town and it behoves this authority to take all practicable steps to prevent a future smoke nuisance by taking full advantage of the provisions of the Clean Air Act, 1956. For this reason serious consideration should be given to the introduction of a smoke control area. I am sure it would have been Dr. Dison’s wish to convey his thanks to the Mayor and Members of the Council for their continued support and the County Medical Officer for his co-operation and to acknowledge the assistance given by the Chief Public Health Inspector and all other Officers of the Council. Yours faithfully, VV. G. SMEATON.