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In connection with the campaign for reduction of atmospheric pollution, the
Report gives further information on the extension of smoke control areas and other
matters, and by the end of the year, approximately one-third of the borough was
included in smoke control areas.
In connection with space heating arrangements, the Council agreed during the
year to give publicity to the danger of using out-of-date oil heaters and offered to
collect such heaters through the Cleansing Department.
Housing conditions in Islington constitute the most important social problem in
the borough. 25 houses were represented for slum clearance under Part III of the
Housing Act, 1957, and seven Closing Orders were made during the year in respect of
whole houses and parts of houses. Under the Housing Act, 1961, eight Management
Orders were made and considerable attention was given to the Housing Act, 1964, which
came into effect, and which it is hoped will prove useful in future by strengthening
possible action which might be taken by local authorities for installation of
additional amenities under the 1961 Act, and also by other provisions which enable
the local authority to improve tenanted dwellings and tenement blocks.
Services for elderly persons continued to improve during the year. The modernization
scheme for special assisted bathing at the Treatment Centre, Seven Sisters
Road was completed, and the meals service delivered to the homes of elderly people
was increased with additional meals offered to each person as well as more recipients
taking advantage of this service.
1964 closes a chapter in the local authority health services of the Metropolitan
Borough, and it has been my privilege to have served as Medical Officer of Health for
a substantial proportion of the time from when the first Medical Officer of Health
was appointed to the original Vestry in 1856 which later became the Metropolitan
Borough. The London Government Act will inevitably entail many more personal changes
including severance of old associations than has ever occurred before, not excluding
the changes brought about in 1948 by the National Health Service Act.
It would not be possible for a Medical Officer of Health to carry out his
functions without the full support of his staff, and I desire to place on record my
grateful thanks to every member of the Health Department. Most particularly do I
wish to express my personal appreciation for their work and loyal and unstinted cooperation
over the past few years to my colleague and Deputy, Dr. J.P.J. Burns, to
the Chief Public Health Inspector, Mr. W.C. Bartlett, to the Deputy Chief Public
Health Inspector, Mr. H. Plinston, and to the Chief Clerk, Mr. E.J. Sharp.
The work of the Medical Officer of Health and that of his department must also
be carried out, if it is to be done effectively, with the full support and understanding
of the responsible committees. The relationship of a Chief Officer to the
Chairman of his Committees is a most important factor in local government, and I
have been fortunate over the past few years in having been associated with the Public
Health Committee under the Chairmanship of Alderman A.J. Rogers, and similarly with
Housing Committee under the Chairmanship of Alderman E.J.W. Bayliss.
V. FREEMAN.
Medical Officer of Health.