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3.
Health Department,
Bidborough House,
38-50, Bidborough Street,
W.C.I.
June 1965.
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS
OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN.
Mr .Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the final Annual Report on the
health and sanitary circumstances of the Borough of Hampstead
during 1964.
One of the uses of an Annual Report is to provide information
in a set pattern which will allow comparison with similar information
concerning previous years or concerning other areas. It is therefore
necessary to delay the report until certain statistical information
is available from the Registrar General and for this reason it was
not possible to present the report until the Borough of Hampstead
had ceased to exist as a local authority.
It will be seen that for the first time the official estimate
for the population exceeds 100,000. Infectious disease was again
low and reflects the success which has been possible by modern
methods of prevention and treatment.
The main work of the department was concentrated on living conditions
and in particular on the repair and improvement of houses. The
powers given to the Council by the Housing Act 1961 to require improvements
in houses in multiple occupation were used more widely than in
previous years and many additional amenities were provided. Nevertheless
the problem is a large one and is likely to occupy the London Borough of
Camden for some years in the future.
Reports on the various services and duties have been kept to a
minimum because this is now mainly a matter of history.
Where there has always been the greatest co-operation with the
London County Council the services will undoubtedly be improved in
Camden by the closer integration of staff such as health visitors and
public health inspectors who visit the homes and are in direct touch
with the public in their homes or working environment. In addition,
the placing of the Health, Housing, Children's and Welfare Departments
in one building can do nothing but good in improving the services in
the new London Borough of Camden.