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

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

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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

    5/44 (page 3)
    ANNUAL REPORT of the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Ilkeston Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have pleasure in presenting my Annual Report for the year 1971. This is number fourteen prepared by your Medical Officer but as Medical Officer to four Authorities, it is also number fifty-six. Changes continue. Perhaps the most noticeable was the decision not to continue to recommend smallpox vaccination as a routine procedure in this country. Many people were disturbed by this and perhaps even now are not too clear on the changed circumstances which make this possible. It is an example of the need to keep our procedures under constant review and not hesitate to take action if a balanced view shows that change is required. The decision by the Council to clear all the substandard houses and embark on their ambitious programme of house building to enable this to be done was most welcome. The Chief Public Health Inspector remarks on this in his report. The reorganization of the Social Services begins to take effect. The Department of Health and Social Security Circular 53/71 points the way these services must look. This is referred to in the report. The large sums of money spent on modernization of homes is an example of the steps being taken from the “ Coal Age ” to the “ Piped Fuel Age ” with all its modern home equipment. Perhaps the report on the work of the Ilkeston Home and Public Safety Committee might emphasize the need for more and better maintenance of all this modern equipment. The home is still the family workshop even if members are out most of the time, or slumped before the “ goggle-box ” ! Disappearance of open fires reduces the risk of some accidents but provides problems of its own. There is an increase in the bulk of refuse for disposal although the weight is less. Perhaps reorganization will at last provide the long discussed incinerator for refuse for the town ! Will reorganization also have to take up the long discussed proposals for improvement areas too ? The support of members of the Council for matters intimately concerning the people of the town is much appreciated.