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TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN, AND COUNCILLORS
OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM
I have the honour to present a report on the Health Services in Lewisham for the
year 1969.
On 6th November Dr. Waldron, the Medical Officer of Health, retired; clearly
this report is mainly on the work carried out under his wise and kindly leadership.
An appreciation of Dr. Waldron's service follows this preamble.
The incidence of general sickness as shown by returns from the Department of Health
and Social Security was normal, although there was an increase over the previous
year in the last month, due to the influenza outbreak in the country at this time.
Following the normal pattern, the incidence of infectious diseases rose over the
previous year, caused entirely by the usual biennial occurrence of measles. The
increase was somewhat less than previously experienced. Vital statistics for the
Borough revealed a drop in the birth rate of 1.9 per 1,000 of the estimated population.
This is the largest percentage drop since the birth rate commenced to fall in 1965,
but is in keeping with the national trend. The death rate of 11.9 per 1,000 estimated
population was lower than the previous year, but calls for no special comment
as it was entirely within the normal range.
An outbreak of food poisoning occurred at a school just within the Borough
boundary in September, but in spite of exhaustive investigation the cause was not
proven. However, it was thought that solanine may have been the agent, particularly
since the only food consumed by all of those affected was potato. The hygiene of
all the food handlers involved could not be faulted, and the premises and utensils
were well up to modern standards of cleanliness.
Mr. A. J. Phillips, the Chief Public Health Inspector, reports in the body of this
report on cases referred to the Department for home dialysis. This service, which
involves the co-ordinated effort of many agencies, is an example of what can be
achieved by co-operative effort, by departments of the Council and outside
Authorities, where a need is manifest and urgent.
A further increase in the number of children treated for verminous infestation
occurred and this is to be regretted.
Progress in the improvement of housing conditions generally was again achieved.
Full use is made of the powers contained in the Housing Acts and many owners
are taking advantage of the grants available to them for the betterment of their
properties.
The Domiciliary Family Planning Service run by the Council and the Clinic
Service provided on an agency basis by the Family Planning Association is still
expanding and is meeting a specific need. Liaison and attachment schemes of health
visitors and district nurses to general practitioners within the Borough are being
developed and where these are in operation they are working well to the benefit *
of the public and to the satisfaction of doctors and nursing staff concerned. As
pointed out elsewhere in the Report, in this Borough there is a high percentage of
"single handed" practices which retards the development of full attachment. There
are signs that more group practices are evolving.
Liaison between the hospital service and the Department was improved during
the year. In particular the Mental Health Section was modified during 1969 by the
re-organisation of the social work on a team basis, each team working to one consultant
psychiatrist's hospital team. This close identification of purpose is working
well and has already created a more rational approach to the problems faced by
the teams.
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