[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Burnley County Borough.

  • Burnley (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Burnley County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The outstanding sections of the Mental Health Actp 1959 came into operation on the 1st November, and immediately prior to that date a successful local Mental Health Week -was organised in conjunction with the Burnley and District Hospital Management Committee and the Committee of the NOo6 Health Division of the Lancashire County Oouncilo The transfer to the Department on the 1st April of a small sheltered workshop 5 housed in the Town Hall basement and administered by a Voluntary Committee 5 gave us the eaocellent nucleus of an Adult Training Centreo It is hoped to occupy more suitable premises early in I96I0 In January our scheme of testing for Phenylketonuria became well establishedo These tests help to present mental diseases in certain instanceso A large detached house in the northern part of the town has been inspected by the Health Committee as a possible Mental Health Hostel^ and it is likely that more positive action will be taken on the matter early in I96I0 Although the setting up of a Chiropody Service in accordance with the Minister’s recommendations was planned^ it was not possible to start the scheme because of the shortage of Chiropodists with qualifications approved by the Ministero A limited scheme was, however, administered by a local voluntary organisation on our behalf for the greater part of the yesTo Mileage covered by vehicles of the Ambulance Service and the number of patients carried continue to increase® Nearly 6,000 more miles were run during the year and over 3j)000 more patients were carried® The pressure on this Service resulted in the staff being increased® A Public Inquiry was held in August in connection with the town's first Smoke Control Area® Objections were made by the Burnley and District Coal Traders Society and 326 householders® The Order was confirmed, however, by the Minister in January 1961® A survey of the second Smoke Control Area was commenced late in the year® An outbreak of food poisoning in a large school demonstrated the necessity for proper refrigeration of food prepared on the day before it is consumed® This, of course, is often necessary wiiere numerous meals are consumed in large establishments® Such an outbreak, -vrtiich fortxinately did not have serious consequences, was alarming when so many children were absent from school and no doubt many were also absent as a result of panic® A similar infection occurring in the home would not give rise to the same degree of alarm, and only on a few occasions have I been notified of such infections®
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