[Report 1963] / Medical Officer of Health, Buxton Borough.

  • Buxton (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1963
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1963] / Medical Officer of Health, Buxton Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/46 (page 2)
    ANNUAL REPORT of the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH For the Year, 1963* Public Health Department, Town Hall, Buxton, To the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Buxton, Mr, Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present the Annual Report for the year 1963. This report is compiled on similar lines to last year to comply with requirements of the Ministry of Health, Buxton is situated on the upper reaches of the Wye at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet above sea level. The majority of the working population are engaged either directly or indirectly in the work of rinining a small holiday resort and spa, A further proportion find their employment in the nearby important lime-stone quarries to the north-east and south of the area and also in an important light industrial undertaking in Chapel-en-le-Frith, The futiore of the town has for the whole of this year remained under the shadow of the proposed cuts in railway services which, if implemented could have disastrous effects. Another important occurrence which could have important long term implications was the decision by the Corporation to close their Municipal Treatment Centre thus leaving the treatment of rheumatism and allied conditions locally almost entirely to the Devonshire Royal Hospital, The unemployment figures during the year show a steep rise in the early part to a figure of 208 wholly unemployed, which fell to around 70 in June, but again nearly reached the 100 mark at the end of the year. The figure for women was very much lower and at no time exceeded 60 in ai^y month. The general health of the town throughout the year has remained remarkably good in spite of the fact that the winter will long be remembered for its severity in a town which is used to hard winters. The prolonged frost exploited to the full any deficiences in plumbing systems, 20^ of water service pipes at one time were frozen and many remained so until early in May, The ?/ater Department of the Corporation did a manful job of work in carting water where required. Nevertheless, the hardship was considerable and worse in those houses, of which there are a number in the town, in multi-occupation - not only were the water supplies frozen, but W,C*s and flushing cisterns became unusable. During this period too cases of sonne dysentery were still occiiring, though I am glad to say the epidemic was well under control before the end of the frost, thanks largely, I feel sure, to the active measures which the Health Department took to eliminate the spread of infection. Figures for live births show little change, and when adjusted are comparable with the figures for England and Yi/'ales, Deaths show a reduction of AO, but the adjusted rate is again slightly higher than the national average. Infant mortality at 17.9 based on 6 infant deaths is well below the national figure as is also the stillbirth rate. During the past five years the infant mortality rate has only exceeded the national average on two occasions which reflects the greatest credit on all concerned with our maternity and child welfare services locally. The fall in the number of deaths has largely been an aill round drop rather than a reduction in ary particular disease, though there were 16 less deaths attributed to coronary heai^ disease, which at 65 is the largest itemised cause of death. This was closely followed by a total of 57 for other forms of heart disease, an increase of 2, Lung cancer, all in males, amounted to 9 or over one third of all causes of death from malignant disease in that sex, A great deal has been done locally to publicise the facts with regard to the health hazards of cigarette smoking summarised in the hist.oric report of the Royal College of Physicians, Particular