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Community Health Information System
The rapid development which is taking place in the local authorities' Health, Welfare
and Children's Services makes the collection, storage, retrieval and transfer to interested persons
of vital information difficult, even within a well-integrated local authority. Even more so is this
the case in regard to the other two branches of the Health Service and one must agree with
Dr. H. Price of the Fulham Chest Clinic as to the urgent necessity for a comprehensive community
health information system.
Infectious Disease
Although there was a decrease in the number of notifications of cases of infectious
disease which were received, nevertheless the reference which is made in the Annual Report to
the incidence of alimentary and other infections underlines the constant vigilance which is
essential. Recent incidents of serious infectious disease emphasise this point. Immunisation
states in relation to diphtheria, poliomyelitis, whooping cough and tetanus must be maintained,
and the vaccination of all children during the second year of life against smallpox, and of susceptible
children at age 10 to 13 years against tuberculosis, continues to be necessary. Dysentery
and food poisoning can only be controlled by meticulous attention to personal hygiene and to
food hygiene.
Environmental Health
The outstanding achievement of the Environmental Health Service was to render it possible
for the Council to make the last Smoke Control Order during the first month of the year under
review. The Order is now in being and Hammersmith is the first London Borough to complete the
Smoke Control programme, with a resultant reduction of smoke in the atmosphere of the order of
fifty per cent, with all the benefit to the health of the residents of the Borough which this must
surely bring. Equally important work was undertaken in relation to housing which is such a fundamental
element in relation to physical, mental, and social health. Accident prevention is by no
means the sole concern, of the Health Education or Personal Health Services, as can be seen by
the steps taken in regard thereto in houses in multi-occupation, in offices, shops and railway
premises and under legislation directed to oil heaters and non-inflammable garments. Food
premises continue to receive a great deal of attention. It is of interest to note the natural fluoride
content of the water supplied to Hammersmith residents. The tremendous help received from the
Public Analyst in food and drugs administration is apparent from Mr. McLachlan's report.
The increase in the demand for health laundry facilities which was reported in 1965 was
maintained and indeed increased by 15 per cent. This is a valuable domiciliary service. The
increase in the calls made on the Medicinal Baths and Disinfestation Services was less satisfactory.
Personal Health Services
The day care of children becomes an increasingly important problem and a great deal of
attention was given to it by officers of the Personal Health Services. Apart from the supervision
of children under the Nursery and Child Minders' Regulation Act, 1948, and the Borough Child
Minders' Scheme, advice was given in relation to the establishment of play groups, and a third
creche was established. The completion of comprehensive structural alterations at one day
nursery, and the opening of a very well-planned and attractive purpose-built day nursery, greatly
improved day nursery provision in the Borough.
Other features of the work of this Service were improved liaison with the general practitioners
in the Borough on the one hand, and with the hospital service on the other. Screening
tests become increasingly available and a cervical cytology clinic was established during the
year.
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