[Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Ramsey U.D.C.

  • Ramsey (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Ramsey U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA Area . Estimated Population (mid-1957) Number of Inhabited Houses end 15,980 acres 5,690 of 1957 1,829 £45,131 £ 176 Rateable Value Value of Penny Rate ... REPORT OF M.O.H. The general health of the District remains very good, and examination of the vital statistics would appear to indicate a very satisfactory state of affairs. However, the population remains entirely static and in fact is a hundred less now than in my first year as your Medical Officer of Health in 1950. Undoubtedly the most important task still confronting the Council is the provision of more and better houses with a more vigorous approach to the question of slum clearance. In the past, housing development has been hampered by the lack of main drainage which is now happily in the course of being provided in the town area. The lack of main drainage has also been a factor in prevent¬ ing satisfactory structural standards to be attained in some of the food premises in the District. Every effort must be made to sec that any such defects are speedily rectified. The water supply situation has vastly improved by the in¬ auguration of the “ Cambridge Scheme.” Nevertheless, alteration to the system of distribution to the Ramsey area, with the possible provision of a new trunk main, is a matter which is under con¬ sideration. As regards the prevention of infectious disease, during my period of service with the Council the position as to both whooping cough and poliomyelitis has changed very considerably for the better with the widespread introduction of a satisfactory vaccine. Vaccination against whooping cough, with the whole-hearted sup¬ port of the general medical practitioners, health visitors and mid¬ wives, has become a routine “ must ” in the District for all new¬ born infants. In concluding this my final Annual Report, I should like to express my very great gratitude to the Members of the Council, their officers and staff both past and present who have done so much to ensure that my task has always been a happy one.