[Report 1971] / Medical Officer of Health, Droitwich Borough.

  • Droitwich (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1971
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1971] / Medical Officer of Health, Droitwich Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/56 (page 1)
    Public Health Department, Covercroft, Droitv/ich, Wl^ 8DD. August, 1972 To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the BOROUGH OF DROIT'A^CH Mr, Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have much pleasure in submitting this my seventeenth Annual Report on the health of the Borough for the year ended 3^1 st December, , The tov/n has been accepting overspill from Birmingham and the West Midlands for a number of years now, and this is becoming evident in a small but satisfying increase in the population and the number of inhabited houses according to the Rate Books (Section A), I do not wish to steal the thunder of the Chairman of the Town Development Committee who has just published his eighth Annual Report, but if I may be permitted to repeat one or two significant remarks it will emphasise the position# The total number of dv/ellings completed (at 31*3•72) under the terms of the agreement with Birmingham Corporation to provide 2,000 rented houses T/as 1,339* The total number of private dwellings (since the commencement of the scheme) at the same da,te was 642# The Secretary of State for the Environment approved, in May 1971 the Tovm Centre proposals and confirmed the No,3 Compulsory Purchase Order in January of this year. Detailed discussions are now talcing place with the County Council and the other Authorities for the programming of the Inner Ring Road, the Police Station, Magistrates’ Court, Health Centre, Library and Fire Station involving arrangements in relation to reaccommodation for those occupants displaced by redevelopment. There has also been considerable activity on the Industrial Zone, ncTsT factories such as Allibert (U.K.) Ltd., Christian Salvesen, Union Cold Storage, Turner Fain and Adpac being added to existing ones v^hich are expanding their premises. This is most encouraging, even if it means more work for our Public Health staff. The Council acquired the Brine Baths from a Private Medical Trust in August, 1971 and have managed to keep the 'big swim* open ever since despite a number of difficulties. This was done to prevent a long established institution from closing dovm. I wish to maice a plea that all possible steps are taken to proceed with the programme of expansion as envisaged by the Working Party even if it does moan a small burden on the Ra-tos, as I am sure it \7ill be in the interests of the General Public at large. The Baths mean a groat deal to many sufferers v/ho continue to visit despite the absence of medical treatment. I am convinced that there is a gap betv/een illness and positive health, which the Na,tional Health Service will not fill by providing such facilities at the new Outpatients and Hydrotherapy Department at Highfiel<3- Hospital. Also there are a nTimber of Disabled Persons which the Social Services Department over a wide area have not yet been able to satisfy. Add to this the obvious need for Indoor Sports facilities in view of the typical inclement British weather, and I am sure the Council have a project worthy of long term consideration. Maybe the Health Authorities of the future Tidll take a different view from the present one and add their support eventually. - 1 -