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Nursing Associations and the Public Health Department of the
Borough Council. The help of all these bodies is needed if old
people are to be kept happy and as independent as possible in
their own homes.
Our Sanitary Inspectors advise and help as part of
their routine work, and in addition the Public Health Department's
help was sought directly during 1955 in no less than 48 cases.
These were referred to us by friends and relatives, neighbours,
the Home Help Department, Hospital Almoners, Doctors, Landlords,
the National Assistance Board, and Welfare Associations.
Census 1951
In my Annual Report for 1953 I included a survey of
the Census of 1951; the composition of the population; the
condition of housing of the people of Hampstead, and a comparison
with other metropolitan boroughs. It was shown that Hampstead is
a residential borough with a higher than average number of
persons in the middle years of life living in rooms in single
person households. There was also a larger proportion of females
to males than in the majority of other London boroughs.
Suicides
In 1954 I reported on the suicides in Hampstead and
again compared them with other metropolitan boroughs. The Hampstead
suicide rate is higher than the average for the country as a whole,
No definite conclusions could be drawn but the investigation
suggested that this might be associated with the large number of
immigrants who have found their way to Hampstead in recent years.
Dr. M.D, Warren
In referring to the above reports I would like to pay
a tribute to Dr. M.D. Warren who was Deputy Medical Officer of
Health to the Borough from December, 1952 to December, 1954, His
fluent pen and his capacity for detailed investigation were of
the greatest assistance to me in presenting these reports to you.
Sanitary Inspectors
The basic work of a Public Health Department originates
from routine inspections carried out by the staff of Sanitary
Inspectors, and complaints received in the Public Health
Department. It is from these two factors that the work of the
Department is built up. The achievements of the Department will