[Report 1958] / Medical Officer of Health, Newark Borough, Southwell R.D.C., Newark R.D.C.

  • Newark-on-Trent (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1958
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1958] / Medical Officer of Health, Newark Borough, Southwell R.D.C., Newark R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Whooping Cough remains as our commonest serious infectious disease and in time it is hoped that the present schemes will bear fruit and have as good results as the diphtheria immunisation schemes. The main preventive work done by the Department has been the vaccination against poliomyelitis. Increased supplies of vaccine became available during the year and a very large number of children, expectant mothers and other priority groups were treated. Also the Ministry recommended the giving of a third “booster” dose to be given 7 months after the second dose and this together with the inclusion of a further age group of young adults of 15 years to 25 years, involved a tremendous increase in work administratively. This involved the engaging of further clerical assistance. Further details are embodied in the Report. Slum Clearance work continued during the year and it is pleasing to note that the number of houses dealt with exceeded the annual average detailed in the Slum Clearance Programme. Further details of this work appears in the Report of the Chief Public Health Inspector. The latter Report is well worthy of study and is a record of the large amount of work done by the Inspectors. This work is chiefly of an urgent nature and it is essential that if the Inspectorate are to cover all branches of their work, then a third Inspector is absolutely necessary. The production of the 1958 Annual Report is, unfortunately, shadowed by the death on the 24th December, 1958 of your Medical Officer of Health, the highly esteemed Dr. George Gilbert Buchanan. For some time it was known that his health was deteriorating but, nevertheless, he still applied himself with zeal and energy to his duties. Up to his last day on duty, the 21st October, though in considerable pain he applied himself to his work and, to avoid last minute disappointment refused to break an engagement in the even¬ ing to give a talk to a Professional Women’s Association. I had known Dr. Buchanan for a number of years and he was held in very high esteem both by the Public, the officials he came into contact with, and by the Society of Medical Officers of Health. The meetings in the early summer of the East Midland Branch of the Society, almost an annual outing to the Friary, was something looked forward to by all members and was an event made successful by the personalities of our host and hostess. The world is the poorer for his departure and his presence and skill will be missed by all. I should like to express my sincere thanks to all members of the Council for their interest and support and to all the Chief Officers,