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Health Department,
Town Hall,
Hornsey, N.8.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Hornsey.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my annual report on the health of the
Borough for the year ended the 31st December, 1955.
Measured by vital statistics the year has again been a good one.
The birth rate, the general death rate, infant and maternal mortality
rates have shown little change over the previous year. Apart from an
outbreak of Measles, which was of moderate severity, there has been
no epidemic of infectious disease.
The true health of a community cannot, however, be judged solely in
terms of lower mortality figures nor by comparative freedom from
serious outbreaks of infectious disease. The observations of medical
officers, sanitary inspectors, health visitors and others in public and
voluntary welfare services, make it all too clear that adverse environmental
conditions still exist, leading to physical or mental ill-health
affecting the happiness and efficiency of families and individuals.
By declared policy of the Council progress is being made to clear the
district of houses unfit for human habitation; and to relieve overcrowding
where it exists: including the sharing by families of common
amenities. Special attention too has been given to the preventive
aspects of air pollution, contamination of food supplies, accidents
in the home and to neglect or indifference to the needs of the aged.
Of special interest is the development of an increasingly closer
relationship and exchange of view between the three arms of the
national health service—hospital, medical practitioner and local
government services. As your medical officer of health I am glad to
have had the opportunity, in recent years, to serve on the local liaison
committees and a hospital consultant's medical advisory committee.
Such opportunities for mutual understanding and goodwill can do much
to strengthen the aims of a truly comprehensive local health service.
To the staff of the health department each of whom has directly or
indirectly contributed to the subject matter in the following pages of
this Report, I acknowledge my indebtedness, as also for their loyal
support throughout the year.
In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation for the encouragement
shown me by the Chairmen and members of the various committees
concerned.
I am,
Your obedient servant,
G. Hamilton Hogben,
Medical Officer of Health.
20th July, 1956.
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