View report page

deal of inspectorial activity and full reference to these multifarious duties is made
in the text of this report.
There was no major outbreak of infectious disease, although the expected high
incidence of cases of measles occurred; and the number of notifications of respiratory
tuberculosis emphasized that this disease must not be viewed with complacency,
in spite of the remarkable progress in recent years in prevention and cure.
Efforts were continued with considerable success to secure a high acceptance
rate for vaccination and immunisation, but we must increase our endeavours to
reach our objective of maximum acceptance.
Food control and hygiene is of special importance, and the transference to
the Borough of full responsibilities under Food and Drugs and related legislation,
has enabled the Department to deal comprehensively with the problems of food
hygiene, food poisoning, unfit food, composition and labelling, preservatives, sampling
and also registration of premises and hawkers.
Much effort is involved in pursuance of the Clean Air Act, but our aim
continues to be to make the whole of the Borough a smoke control area by 1970.
The serious shortage of public health inspectors and other staff has unfortunately
made it impossible to carry out fully all the environmental activities which we would
have wished.
There were, inevitably, many changes of staff during the year, including the
resignation of Dr. D. A. Smyth, formerly Medical Officer of Health of the Borough
of Edmonton for eight years, and the retirement of Mr. A. E. Gooday, formerly
Chief Public Health Inspector for the Borough of Southgate, who had served that
authority for no less than thirty years.
At the coming into operation in 1948 of the National Health Service Act, 1946,
I deplored the division it made in Enfield of local authority health services between
two authorities. However, I pointed out that the gap was to some extent bridged
by the fact that I continued to have responsibility for these services in my dual
capacity of Medical Officer of Health and County Area Medical Officer, and found
no difficulty in keeping myself informed of my activities in both capacities. Affairs
have now turned full circle and I need suffer no longer a Jekyll and Hyde
dichotomy.
The contents of this Report show the wide variety and volume of the work of
the Health Department during its first year and I wish to offer my thanks to so
many people who have wholeheartedly worked with enthusiasm under considerable
pressure and many difficulties to ensure that the service functioned successfully.
I therefore record my grateful appreciation of the support and encouragement
of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Members of the Health and Education
Committees, the loyal service of my Deputy and all members of the Department,
and the willing co-operation of my colleagues in other Departments.
WILLIAM D. HYDE,
Medical Officer of Health
Principal School Medical Officer
iv