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HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
227/233 Commercial Road,
London
El 2BU
TO: The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I present the Annual Report on the health of the Borough for 1970.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Vaccination against Rubella was offered to girls in their fourteenth year - to
be extended later to lower age groups. A reasonable acceptance rate was forthcoming.
As discussed by the Chest Physicians in the main report, tuberculosis notifications
remain at 0.6 per 1,000 population: higher than the national average. It is hoped that
the weekly open session provided by one Miniature Mass Radiography Unit will be allowed
to continue in the area of Spital fields.
HOUSING
Progress was maintained in this important field. The next quinquennial programme
of clearance of unfit properties should complete the representation of the major areas
of slums. Proposals to plan the comprehensive development of the London Docks would
have provided much needed land within the borough but these are now to form part of a
larger investigation of dockland development on both sides of the river. This should
not be-allowed to reduce the impetus of our own borough housing schemes.
VENEREAL DISEASE
An account of "contact tracing' methods undertaken by the social workers of the
department based at the Whitechapel clinic, London Hospital, is given on page
20.It should be noted that in past years, despite anational trend upwards these workers
have been able to reduce the local incidence of gonorrhoea - and in the year 1970
almost to contain the level. Concentrated and diligent attention to duty has been
required to ensure this success. Health education in such acomplex field has continued
by both the Health Education officer and her staff, and health visitors in the
department, with specific attention to the venereal diseases and also as part of the
wider aspects of education for healthy living.
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