[Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Blackpool County Borough.

  • Blackpool (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1959
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Blackpool County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/98 (page 7)
    of the mentally ill. The Health Committee have been giving long consideration to the requirements of this section of the community. The new junior training centre which was in the course of construction during the year is evidence of this forethought and planning. The development of future services will have to await the growth of public interest to a point where further advances will be acceptable. Evidence of the changing attitude of the public to mental illness is shown by the increase in the number of patients entering hospitals for treatment on an informal basis, and the reduction of those requiring admission by order. (There has also been a welcome reduction in the waiting list for patients requiring admission to mental deficiency hospital.) When viewed together with the work undertaken by voluntary organisations it is safe to .say that pleasing progress has been made in this field during the past year. A serious challenge has been given to the community in the new situation created by the recent legislation and this will undoubtedly be accepted by all progressively thinking sections of the population. Closely associated with the work of the mental health section and often over- lapping, are the instances where the individual through age and infirmity is unable to devote to himself proper care and attention. Compulsory removals under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act do not find favour with either the public or the members of the local authority staff, consequently action under this act is only undertaken when everything else has failed. The proposed integration of the School Health and Public Health Services should provide better supervision of the members of the community and reduce the number of these unfortunate occurrences. The routine duties of the department in environmental hygiene and sanitation make a considerable contribution to the health of the community. Attention is drawn to valuable work carried out at the Abattoir, where all the meat produced is subject to inspection and all unsound food has to be dealt with in a manner which ensures safety for the community. Due to increasing demands on the space at the Abattoir and the present inade- quate facilities, consideration was given to the best means of providing the standard of facilities now required by the Ministry of Health. Eventually the authority decided to proceed with the provision of a new Abattoir. Close attention is paid to all aspects of food, water, air and noise to ensure as far as possible a clean, wholesome environment in which to lay a foundation to live a full healthy life. Ready co-operation is received from the majority of the public in all these measures and this emphasises the wisdom of the department’s officers in considering their duties to be primarily educational and advisory rather than the enforcement of legislation. By law one cannot make a man handle milk and food or anything else properly. Once he has been educated to the necessity, he will do it naturally without requiring continual supervision. I should like to express my appreciation of the loyal and enthusiastic work of all members of the Health Department. I would also like to thank other Chief Officers of the Corporation for their ready assistance at all times and for supplying some of the information contained in this report. Co-operation between all branches of the Health Services is essential and the goodwill and liaison that exists between the local authority and the hospital and general practitioners is a valuable asset. I should also like to pay tribute to the voluntary organisations and members of the public who have given generously of their leisure time. I am indebted to the Chairmen and all members of all the various Committees for their courtesy, consideration and encouragement. I am. Your obedient Servant, D. W. WAUCHOB. Municipal Health Centre, Whitegate Drive, Blackpool. Tel. No. Blackpool 63232.