[Report 1961] / Medical Officer of Health, Buxton Borough.

  • Buxton (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1961
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1961] / Medical Officer of Health, Buxton Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/48 (page 4)
    During the year two of the three Council *s swimming pools were re-opened at the Natural Baths, but do not provide the space or the amenities required and one regrets very much the delay in providing a nev; and up to date swimming pool which is large enough for the town and its surrounding districts. One knows only too v/ell that the number of deaths from drowning each year is much too high and in most cases if a child is not given the opportunity to learn to swim during his school days the opportunity to do so is lost for ever. During the year no house building has taken place, but we were able to acquire 35 houses vacated by the R,A,P, and though this v;as a help it was not enough to allow for the Clearance Areas already scheduled to be dealt with. This is unfortunate, since these dwellings have deteriorated further since they were originally represented and one regrets the necessity for their continued occupation, I feel that more should be done to improve the housing conditions of the aged whether by more purpose-built bungalovirs and maisonettes or by conversions of existing property, I do not think that the ’’two year rule” should be applied to old people since ground floor accommodation may, and often is, an emergency requirement in the case of the aged when some physical disability, often cardiac disease, supervenes. In spite of a great deal of publicity inadequate use is being made of the various Improvement Grants and the ultimate solution may well be compulsion in the form of modernisation areas. Houses in multi-occupation are a problem locally, not of enormous magnitude by any means but relatively of importance, since in some cases the living conditions in this type of house are inadequately described by the word squalid, The Health Department has continued to do what it can to maintain and in^rove the food hygiene standard generally in the tovm, though no courses were organized during the year with the College of Further Education, I hope that they will be resumed, however, in 19^2, 'Nith the present staff it is not possible to maintain a meat inspection, which is being done at present, together with all the other calls on their time to give as much attention as one would like to this important subject which, as I pointed out last year, involves the supervision of food premises which can and are undertaken by persons vifho have not even acquired the knovv^ledge of the elementary general hygienic principals involved. The .7ater Undertaking in a tovm of this size fully cornplies with modem requirements. One still regrets the delay which continues to take place in implementing fluoridation of mains water in this country generally since this practicable and effective public health measure can only confer its full benefit ¥/hen the effect is extended throughout the whole of the child*s growing life including the pre-natal period so that each year that passes means that a number of children will grow up and lose the benefit in whole or part which they could have obtained to their dental health. As regards the tovwi*s sewerage system the reconstruction of the Sewage Works is now in its final phase which is a matter of very great satisfaction and sane thing for ¥/hich the Public Health Committee and the Council are rightly proud. During the year the Council have agreed to the appointment of a Pupil Health Inspector and I feel that this is a commendable decision, as if vire are to maintain a sufficient supply of qualified Health Inspectors of the right type we must make use of every line of approach and make it possible for potential candidates to obtain their practical training locally. The pupil too has something to offer and should be a useful