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Fluoridation in the Interests of Dental Health
The Ministry's Circulars 28/62and 12/63 had encouraged the three former Borough Councils and the
Middlesex County Council to consider the fluoridation of water supplies, and the subject was then
reconsidered by the new Borough following Circular 15/65.
A visit was arranged to the Borough by two of the country's leading experts on this subject.
Dr.Dalzeil Ward, from the Central Council for Health Education, spoke in favour of fluoridating drinking
water supplies and he described all the benefits to the dental health of future generations which would
ensue, and Dr. H.M. Sinclair of Oxford made the case against fluoridation.
When the matter was f irst discussed by the Council, the Health and Welfare Committee reported in
favour of fluoridation but the Council referred the recommendation back and asked for a report on
alternative methods. The Health and Welfare Committee considered a report on the use of fluoride tablets
but they were not in favour of the introduction of this method and their recommendation (in June 1966)
"that the Council inform the Metropolitan Water Board and the Ministry of Health that they would support
the fluoridation of water supplies", was approved.
MIDWIFERY SERVICE
As from 1st April 1965, the administration of the midwives' night duty rota system was transferred
from the former Middlesex Ambulance Department to the Night Service Department of the Whittington
Hospital. The transition was effected smoothly, and the system operates most successfully. The
Department is grateful to the Whittington Hospital for their ready co-operation and the very efficient
service given.
The provision of transport for midwives without cars who are summoned to emergency labour cases
was taken over by the Council's Cleansing and Transport Department during the day, and by radio-controlled
mini-cabs by night. The Ambulance Service may still be used if no other form of transport is available.
It is appropriate here to stress the weight of equipment which a midwife has to carry with her. This
consists of a delivery bag (weight approximately 12lbs.), an analgesic machine, which may be Trilene
Tecota Mark VI (7lbs), or the Entonox (nitrous oxide and oxygen) which was introduced at the end of
1965 (10lbs.) and an oxygen sparklet for resuscitation of the newborn (6lbs).
The number of home deliveries conducted by domiciliary midwives was 880 - a slight drop on the
previous year, nodoubt due to the decrease in the national birth rate and the increased number of planned
early discharges after hospital confinements. The number of cases who were booked for domiciliary
confinement but who were transferred to hospital during labour as emergency admissions was 98. The
Obstetric Emergency Service ('Flying Squad') was used eight times during the year, and all the cases
were dealt with satisfactorily.
The number of cases where assessment of social conditions was made in connection with plannedearly
discharge from hospital continued to increase:-

The number of actual planned early discharges was 252.
Further early discharges were accepted, although not planned, because of emotional difficulties
due to stillbirths, neo-natal deaths, or domestic problems. These additional early discharges totalled
197.
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Continuing the policy of selection for hospital confinements, social assessments for suitable cases
were carried out on request as follows:-