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To: The Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the London Borough of Haringey
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the report on the health of the Borough of Haringey for the year ended 31
December 1972.
The Report for 1972 is the eighth and last of the Annual Reports of the Medical Officers of Health for
Haringey. It follows a long series of annual reports by the Medical Officers of Health of the former Boroughs of
Tottenham, Hornsey and Wood Green (listed on following page) who, together with Drs. McAuley and Perkins
of the Middlesex County Council, saw the evolution to the health services over a century. The office of Medical
Officer of Health now joins the extinct occupations of the past such as the Barber Surgeons. Like a mediaeval
dynasty our year finishes with a comet.
The new Area Health Authority will be able to review the functions carried out at present by the Local Health
Authority and bring to us the benefit of an overall approach taking account of the problems seen in the
hospitals and general practice and, similarly, the quality of work in hospitals may derive benefit from constructive
consumer criticism through the medium of the new Community Health Councils which must be seen as an
evolution from the most successful of those frequently very successful bodies the Friends of the Hospitals.
The future of the new National Health Service will depend not only on the enthusiasm, competence and skill of
the staff in hospitals, general practice, clinics and domiciliary care but also on the capacity of the Service to
keep aware of public needs and wants and in meeting this challenge lies the opportunity for a pioneering
achievement that could be an example to the world.
The Environmental Health Services which were the first product of the early years of Public Health and the
basis upon which local government was built will remain as the responsibility of the Local Authorities. They
will, however, have the advice and assistance of the Area Health Authority through the Specialist Community
Physician designated as the Proper Officer.
In conclusion, I should like to record my thanks to Councillor Mrs. Lipson, Chairman of the Health Committee
during the year, and to the members of the Committee for their encouragement and support. My thanks are
especially due to the staff of the Health Department for their loyal and efficient service during a year of
exceptional difficulty and uncertainty in view of the anticipated changes.
I have the honour to be your obedient servant.
J.L. PATTON
Medical Officer of Health