[Report 1935] / Medical Officer of Health, Huddersfield County Borough.

  • Huddersfield (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1935
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1935] / Medical Officer of Health, Huddersfield County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/126 (page 7)
    It is a pleasure to record that the maternal mortality rate for last year was also below the average. This rate is based on such small numbers that it is liable to great variation, but there is every reason to believe that the services provided in this branch of the work are also giving tangible results. From time to time particular sections of the Health Depart¬ ment’s activities claim special attention. Last year housing was outstanding in this respect, for the work associated with the demolition, or closure, of unfit houses, and later in connection with the overcrowding survey, assumed exceptional proportions. In response to Circular 1331 from the Ministry of Health, dated April, 1933, a programme for dealing with slum clearance during the following five years was submitted. The programme outlined has been extended since then both by the enlargement of individual areas and by the inclusion of new' areas, but the Report which follows shows that work in connection with this programme is well advanced. Nevertheless the end of the housing problem is by no means in sight, for there are still very many houses within the Borough which fall far short of the standard which is regarded to-day as a reasonable standard of fitness for human habitation. Owing to the very uneven nature of the land in this locality it was unfortunately the practice in years past to build as many houses as possible on the principle of one on top of another, the upper house opening to a road, or pathway, at a higher level than the one beneath. In this way the common roof effected an economy at the time of building, but the under house is unsatisfactory, and it is impossible to make it otherwise, for, being built right up to the earth behind, freedom from dampness and through ventilation are unobtainable. There are also many back to back houses in congested areas, all of which will have to be dealt with before it can be said that the housing conditions of the Borough are satisfactory. In submitting this Report I again wish to express my sincere thanks not only to the members of my staff for their valuable help throughout another year, but also to the Chairmen and members of those Committees with which I have been associated for their encouragement and support. It is felt that the happy atmosphere which has pervaded every aspect of the work has added in no small measure to its efficiency. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant