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to food hygiene. Everyone concerned with the handling, processing, cooking
or sale of food carries a heavy responsibility in ensuring that their products
are safe from the health point of view.
The three cases of typhoid which occured during 1970, were all infected
when on holiday abroad. This is now-a-days the usual pattern.
Last year the Consultant Chest Physicians at both the Hammersmith
and Fulham Chest Clinic drew attention to an increase in the number of new
notifications of tuberculosis. During 1970, this trend was reversed at
Hammersmith while at Fulham there was a slight increase in the female
notifications only. Having regard to the population of Hammersmith it
would be wrong to draw too many conclusions from the number of notifications
received in a particular year. The remarks contained in the reports of
both Chest Physicians, however, as to the age, sex and place of origin
distribution, of the new notifications, indicate that the position is
being kept under close scrutiny.
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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:
During 1970, the Public Health Inspectors continued to be most active
in the housing field. Their work was orientated to repair and rehabilitation
under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1969, rather than to the slum
clearance powers contained in previous Housing Acts. Since approximately 70%
of the dwelling units in the Borough were constructed during the period 1875
to 1919, it will be appreciated that many of these properties are sub-standard
and a lesser number are unfit. A programme of extensive repair and rehabilitation,
or demolition and redevelopment, which should be based on detailed survey and
assessment of the most appropriate procedure in different parts of the Borough
is, therefore, required.
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES:
The efforts to improve liaison and co-operation between this Authority's
medical and nursing staff and the general practitioners and hospitals in
the Borough, which were referred to last year, continued during 1970. This
process, so essential to an efficient Health Service, will be continued to
1974. The Authority's Medical Officers, Health Visitors, Home Nurses and
Midwives are in a position to be of great assistance to both the general
practitioners and hospital consultants over a wide clinical field.
Once again, the Personal Health Services in Hammersmith proved of
interest to a large number of visitors both from this country and overseas.
HEALTH EDUCATION:
In addition to the constant programme of Health Education which is
conducted very largely on a person to person basis by Medical Officers, Health
Visitors, Public Health Inspectors and other officers in the Health Department
the Council's Health Education Exhibition continued to provide information
on the Council's Health and Social Services as well as being a valuable
demonstration of Health Education generally.
The Chief Dental Officer and his staff once again were enthusiastic
in organising a valuable programme of Dental Health Education.
CONCLUSION:
The Chairmen and Members of the various Committees of the Council once
more took a very great interest in the Community Services and sincere thanks
is expressed to them for this. A feature of the London Borough of Hammersmith
has been clear recognition of the close inter-relationship of the Council's
services. It is a pleasure, therefore, to thank the Town Clerk and Chief
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