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TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS
OF THE BOROUGH OF FINCHLEY.
September, 1955.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This Annual Report on the health of the Borough is a record
of work carried out under the direction of Dr. A. A. Turner,
M.C., D.P.H., who was Medical Officer of Health for Finchley
during the year 1954. The compilation of the Report has been
completed since I succeeded Dr. Turner in June 1955 and in the
circumstances it is not possible to comment on the details of administration
or procedure during the year.
On reviewing the statistics presented in the Report certain
interesting facts are apparent. The death rate of 10.7 per thousand
of the population is the lowest recorded in the Borough for many
years. It is encouraging to see that the case rate for tuberculosis
of 7.85 per ten thousand population and the death rate from tuberculosis
of 0.86 per ten thousand population are both the lowest
rates ever recorded in Finchley. Five years ago the records show
that the case rate was 11.65 per ten thousand population and the
death rate 3.19 per ten thousand population. It is significant to
note that while the death rate has dropped quickly the case rate
has not improved to anything like the same extent. Indeed in 1929
the case rate was 9.12 which is not greatly different from that
of 1954.
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act which came into operation
on the 30th August 1954 allows owners to increase the rent
of controlled property on condition the house is in good repair
and suitable for occupation. The tenant can protect himself against
an increase in rent by obtaining a Certificate of Disrepair from the
Council. These certificates are obtained by application to the Public
Health Department and are issued only if the premises are not in
good repair or are not fit for occupation having regard to the
following:—
i Stability
ii Freedom from damp
iii Natural lighting
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