[Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Dudley County Borough.

  • Dudley (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Dudley County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    8/80 (page 6)
    Other Vital Statistics. 1 he birth rate has again fallen during- the year from 16.03 per 1,000 population in 1950 to 15.04. The average birth rate for England and Wales is 15.5 per 1,000 population, also a reduction on last year’s figure of 15.80. The Great Towns including London show a higher birth rate of 17.30 although this is again a reduc- tion on last year’s figure of 17.6. There is little change in the death rate, the figure for the year being 11.70 per 1,000 population compared with 11.51 in 1950. The death rate in the town compares very favourably with national averages, viz. 12.5 for England and Wales and 13.4 for the Great Towns including London. i;. Housing. TJie housing problem is still a major factor in dealing with the many health problems which arise throughout the year. It would probably be very difficult to assess the amount of physical and mental illness directly resulting from the hardship and suffering caused by the lack of a separate home, and the housing problem must contribute in no small measure to sickness rates throughout the country at the present time. However, the sympathetic con- sideration given by the Chairman and Members of the Housing Committee has resulted in alleviating some of our worst cases where the added burden of ill-health has made rehousing vital to the patient’s recovery. Unfortunately the majority of medical priorities must be confined to the most serious of infectious diseases, viz. tuberculosis, but I hope it will be possible in the future to give consideration to other categories of illness, and a reduction in the tuberculosis rate for which we are actively striving would be a big step in this direction. A big step in the right direction has been taken during the year in initiating the procedure for the town’s first post-war slum clearance scheme. This will mean a major operation but one which is long overdue. It is not only necessary to build more houses. Many of those still in occupation are not worthy of being described as living accommodation. Only the stringency of the immediate post-war years has justified their continued existence and the health of the community will be considerably enhanced when they are finally removed and the occupants rehoused in modern dwellings. My thanks are due once again for the support and encourage- ment I have received during the year from all members of the Council and especially from the Chairman of the Health Com- mittee, Alderman Dr. A. W. Weston. Above all, the loyal service which I receive from every member of the Health and Welfare Departments is primarily responsible for the successful work achieved by the Council’s Health and Welfare Services in con- junction with the close co-operation of the general practitioners and Hospital Authorities. As in previous years I have enjoyed the fullest co-operation from officials of other Departments, and in my own Department I would acknowledge the able advice and assistance of Mr. W, Parker, Chief Sanitary Inspector, and Mr.