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Tuberculosis
A member of the nursing staff of a maternity unit in the borough was found to be suffering from open pulmonary
tuberculosis. On the advice of a chest physician all the mothers who were confined there during the period of
infectivity were followed up and given chest X-rays, while their babies were tested for evidence of tuberculosis.
No further cases of infection were found.
Rubella (German Measles)
This disease has been found to be a significant cause of congenital abnormalities in babies when the mothers are
infected during early pregnancy. During the year the Department of Health announced that rubella vaccine
would become available for girls aged eleven to thirteen years to prevent the disease occurring when they become
mothers later in life.
The Haringey Council was reluctant to accept the advice of the Department of Health and decided not to
implement this policy on the grounds that it was not known if the immunity would persist into the childbearing years.
The Council reversed this decision in July, 1971, and rubella vaccination will begin in Haringey schools in the
autumn of 1971.
Contact Tracing and Health Education in the Control of Venereal Diseases
The tables supplied by the Consultant Venereologist at the Prince of Wales's Clinic show that venereal disease
is increasing. As the disease is not notifiable we cannot be sure that this increase is due to the number of
Haringey patients or to patients who have attended from elsewhere. The venereal diseases are not notifiable in
order to ensure the confidential nature of their treatment and, indeed, anonymity is part of the technical
expertise of a successful V.D. Clinic..
During 1970 prior to the passing of the Social Services Act, the Health Department shared with Enfield a
social worker who devoted part of her time to the care of unmarried mothers and in the remainder of her time
she helped to trace women contacts who were alleged to have infected men patients and who could therefore be
advised on the need for treatment for their disease. It is an accepted fact that when contact tracing is functioning
well there is a decline in the male : female ratio and the table below shows how this has been achieved.

In 1971 the Health Department will have the part-time (0.6) services of a separately appointed contact tracer
which will be shared with the Borough of Enfield.
When talks are given in schools, children are advised on the risks of venereal diseases and pregnancy.
Housing Applications - Assessment on Medical Grounds
During 1970 requests were received for 715 cases to be investigated and recommendations to be made on their
priority for re-housing as a result of illness or disability. This number was approximately the same as in 1969.
All these cases were considered by Senior Medical Officers of the Health Department.
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