[Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough.

  • St. Helens (Merseyside, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/102 (page 4)
    The maternal mortality rate during the year was extremely low at 0.51 and a ; special report on the single case occurring is given in the section dealing with ; Maternity and Child Welfare. Progress in Slum Clearance during the year showed an advance over i 1956 but was still rather slow because of shortage of staff. Details of the work ; accomplished are given in the Chief Public Health Inspector’s Section of the i Report. There was little improvement in the staff situation regarding Public ] Health Inspectors during the year, and this had its inevitable effect on the urgent ij and pressing problems of the work of Slum Clearance, investigation of Atmos- ■ pheric Pollution and field work in the realm of Food Hygiene. A review of the ] staffing position was taken by the Department during the year and the establish¬ ment was increased by two Specialist Inspectors to assist in the special work of housing inspection and food inspection. As regards Health Visitors, the position was a little easier at the end of the year owing to the fact that four students • were trained and taken on the staff, but at the end of the year there was still a deficiency of approximately one-third of the staff. Mention must be made of the sad death during the year of Alderman N. Birch, J.P., who had for many years been Chairman of the Public Health and Health Committees. His keen interest during many years was a constant encouragement to the Department, and the successful accomplishment of many ; departmental projects was due to his wise guidance. He was succeeded in the s Chairmanship by Alderman M. A. Shard, J.P. Mention should also be made of the retirement of Mr. E. G. Patterson, Chief Clerk, during the year. Mr. Patterson had given many years of valuable work in the administration and , guidance of the clerical sections. During the time of re-organisation following | the National Health Service Acts and the establishment of new sections with ■ their consequent development in the following years, he undertook with great , success a very responsible task. For the successful carrying on of the work of the Department and for advances made in the various Services during the year, I am indebted to the i ever willing and able assistance of every member of the staff. I would also take this opportunity of thanking the members of the Council for their help, advice and kindly consideration. I have the honour to be. Your obedient Servant, G. O’BRIEN.