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12
In 195° to 1954 there were 105, 111, 115, 109 and 102 cases
notified respectively. This is a definite trend in the right
direction and I am confident it will accelerate in the years to
come. The number of deaths was 15, compared with 19, 12 and 12
in the years 1952, 1953 and 1954, and I hope this figure will
show the same downward trend. Of the new cases notified only
4 were non-respiratory tuberculosis and there were 2 deaths in
this group. It is fair to say that non-respiratory tuberculosis
has been substantially controlled.
During the summer months an outbreak of infectious
disease occurred which affected a number of hospitals in Hampstead
and St. Pancras belonging to the Royal Free Hospital Group.
Infection spread from the staff of one hospital to another. The
outbreak mostly affected the nurses and resident staff.
This epidemic caused very great concern to the Governor:
of the Hospitals, the consultant staff and all those whose dutylay
in the Group. One by one it was necessary to close each
hospital to prevent the spread of the disease and in some cases
because nursing staff was not available to look after the patients
In due course a complete report will be published and I do not
wish to anticipate its conclusions. Some 300 individuals
contracted the disease and I am pleased to say that at the time
of writing this report no deaths were recorded directly due to
the disease, and in fact all but 4 or 5 have recovered. Even
those still ill are showing signs of improvement.
Appendix
The Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health is
very often used for reference purposes by members of the Council
who are called upon for advice on many matters with a medical
or social aspect. I have therefore thought it wise to include
an Appendix in which I have set out details of the many statutory
and voluntary bodies engaged in the welfare of persons in the
Borough, and in some cases a brief description of the services
they perform.
Conclusion
I am now left with the pleasant task of thanking those
who have helped me during the five and a half years I have been
Medical Officer of Health to Hampstead. I have received
unfailing courtesy from the Aldermen and Councillors themselves,
and at much indebted indeed to the Chairmen of the Public
Health Committee and of the Housing Committee, whose help and