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channels;and expanding or even creating new services as and when
these services seem to be required.
Prom a humanitarian point of view,it is a truism to say that
the aged are our responsibility, both as individuals and as a
community. There is surely no slur no stigma in growing old it
is and should be considered an honoured state, deserving of privilege
demanding our sympathetic understanding and assistance.
If we are to look on the matter from the most mundane angle, it
would be equally true to say that unless the problem of the aged
can be solved the national economy is quite certain to suffer.
Our country has an ageing population, a fact which is apparent
nowhere more than in Wood Green.
But surely there is no need to take the latter standpoint.
Let us think of those aged individuals.alone in their tiny rooms
without friends, without company sometimes without comforts,
without even the barest necessities of life. Such thoughts will
surely awaken in us a sense of responsibility a sense of justice,
a firm determination to ensure that everything possible is done
for a section of the community which through no fault of its
own has lagged behind in the race of life.
I am very happy to be able to report that during the year
steps were taken to form an Old People s Welfare Committee under
the auspices of the Borough Council, An ad hoc organisation has
already been set up to study and deal with this tremendous prob
lem. I have no doubt that, when the local needs have been fully
assessed, the Committee will be able to integrate the various
activities already being carried out directing effort into the
most effective channels and expanding or even creating new services
where these seem to be required.
Laboratory Facilities
I would again record ray appreciation and thanks to the Staff
of the Central Public Health Laboratory, both at Colindale and
at Coppetts Wood Hospital, for their unfailing assistance during
the year. Once again we did not have to call upon the Laboratory
to any great extent during 1954 owing to the absence of major
outbreaks of infectious disease. It is however, very satisfactory
to remember that the Public Health Laboratory Service is
available to us and that any calls which we make upon it will
be readily and sympathetically met.