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To: The Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the London Borough of Haringey.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present the first annual report to the people
of the London Borough of Haringey for the year ended 31st December, 1965.
During the first quarter of the year, the four authorities - Middlesex, Tottenham, Hornsey and Wood
Green - were responsible for the services, and statistics from them have been included to complete the
full year. The staff from the four authorities were transferred into office accommodation at Tottenham
Town Hall where an early difficulty with telephone communications showed that a health department makes
much more use of verbal communication than was required for the routine work of the former Borough. The
enthusiasm and tolerance on the part of the new Council combined with the industry and conscientiousness
of the staff ensured that in spite of re-organisation the health services to the public continued without a
hitch.
This first annual report includes a large number of statistics which will form a base line for the
measurement of future progress and thanks are due to the senior members of the Department for their
contributions to the report. The report gives information about the action taken to improve or ameliorate
environmental conditions by the introduction of new standards of amenity for houses in multiple occupation,
information about a new improvement area and about the clearance of unfit houses.
During the year there has been considerable progress with clean air and we now accept as normal
the absence of foggy winters. However, even when the whole of the Borough becomes a smoke controlled
area, an event expected about 1970, it will still be necessary to ensure that no new forms of pollution
damage the purity of the air we breathe.
A new clinic was opened in October at Fortis Green which now houses the maternity and child
welfare clinic from the former Electricity Showrooms, together with the school dental and minor ailments
clinics from ColdfalI Avenue. The clinic is housed in attractive premises not far from the busy shopping
centre at Muswell Hill.
During the year considerable interest was shown in the establishment of the service for examination
of cervical smears with a view to the prevention of cancer of the uterus. I would drawn attention, however
to the fact that only seven women under the age of 75 died from this cause in contrast to the fact that the
corresponding total of people who died from lung cancer was no fewer than 155, or twenty times as many.
The mental health service has had to develop in the only London Borough which found itself devoid
of premises for this purpose, but fortunately we have been able to use the facilities offered by the
neighbouring authorities of Barnet and Enfield, which provide the services of a junior training school,
an adult training centre and hostels for the mentally ill. During the year much thought and consideration
has been given to the planning of various types of premises for the future mental health services of the
Borough.
In conclusion, I wish to record my thanks to the Chairman and Members of Committees, and especially
to Councillor Moss, Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee, for encouragement and support, and
to the Town Clerk, and especially to Mr. Wickens, Assistant Town Clerk, and other Chief Officers of the
Council for their invaluable assistance. My thanks are due to the staff of the health department, and
especially to Mr. Relleen, Chief Administrative Officer, for loyal and efficient service during the period
of the evolution of the new authority.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient Servant,
J.L. PATTON,
Medical Officer of Health.