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HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
227/233, Commercial Road,
E.1.
to: The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of The London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Steady progress was the key-note of the year with further developing co-ordination between
the various sections of the department and the other social services of the Council. Whilst
one would not wish for, nor expect in this area, the routine life, it has been pleasant to
live at a little less tension than in recent years.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
As I reported last year, the incidence of scabies has risen over the last few years, and
the year 1967 showed a continuance of that trend. Cases coming to notice totalled 450,
compared with 104 in 1966. In default of available powers for official notification, the
local liaison arrangements with all medical practitioners and hospitals worked satisfactorily
to deal with known cases.
Tuberculosis notifications again declined, both for pulmonary and non-pulmonary forms of
the disease. As is underlined by the local chest physicians this encouraging sign is dependent
on sustaining the vigilant work and methods so well proven in the past in the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of this disease.
Dysentery and food poisoning outbreaks showed marked reductions compared with last year.
Discussed fully in the main body of the report, venereal diseases still present an
important challenge to the public health services. Special tribute should be paid to the
diligent work of the Council's two welfare officers employed at the Whitechapel Clinic, under
the direction of the consultant venereologists, which has enabled an increasing number of case
contacts to be brought for treatment, so lessening the reservoirs of infection for these
diseases in the community at large.
CANCER
Total deaths in the borough from all types of cancer increased to 539 from 481 last year.
Significantly, deaths from cancer of the lung totalled 181 compared with 157 in 1966. Despite
exhortation, and intensive health education campaigns on the dangers of smoking in this regard,
the public at large appears to ignore the warnings. This disdain to accept good advice is
reflected in the rising mortality rate.
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