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3
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, 1951
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of
Enfield.
I have pleasure in presenting my Annual Report for 1951.
Last year I commented on the unlimited opportunities for
Public Health to improve the health of the community and so
relieve the burden on the curative side of the Health Services.
As the success of preventive medicine will pay ample dividends,
not only in preventing ill-health and saving life, but in reducing
expenditure on curative medicine, which I imagine is most evident
in the case of infectious disease, it is perhaps unfortunate that such
financial advantages are not directly reflected in Local Authority
expenditure.
Although the Public Health Department can take action
within the limits of existing legislation to promote health and
remove factors adverse to healthy living, there remains much that
individuals can and must do in their own interests. To a large
extent this applies to the conditions under which we select to spend
our leisure and I make no apology for reiterating my remarks of
last year when I referred to Enfield's fortunate position with regard
to parks and open spaces and pleaded for their proper use to the
full extent. These opportunities for healthy out-door exercise
should be seized during all seasons by each individual according to
his capacity, and there is excuse only for a few to lead a completely
sedentary life. By this, I am not drawing a picture of the citizens
of Enfield, in gymnastic garb, undertaking athletic feats in the
parks in all sorts of weather, but merely suggesting that all of us
whose occupations are more or less sedentary should endeavour,
according to our own needs and ability, to secure adequate outdoor
activity to give the necessary exercise and training essential to
good health.
Although no action was taken during the year, under section
47 of the National Assistance Act, which deals with the compulsory
removal of aged and infirm persons to Hospitals and Institutions,
because of lack of proper care and attention at, home, sufficient
cases were brought to my notice to make me realise that the problem
of the proper care of the aged is growing yearly. We have known
that the proportion of aged people in the population is increasing,
but it is disturbing to find increasing evidence of lack of family unity