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ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR THE YEAR 19 54
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Hendon.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health
for the year 1954. Dr. A. F. Adamson retired on 9th November, and Dr. K. M. Bodkin
served in a temporary capacity until 16th January, 1955, after which date I commenced
duty.
Dr. Adamson's services were divided so that for 40% of his time he was Medical
Officer of Health for the Borough and responsible for the environmental services,
and for the remaining 60% he served with Dr. Turner of Finchley as Joint Area
Medical Officer in the Middlesex Area 4 (Hendon and Finchley) with joint responsibility
for the administration of the personal health services.
The terms of the appointment have now been altered so that 70% of my time is
allotted to the Borough of Hendon as Medical Officer of Health with responsibility
for the environmental services, and for the remaining 30% I am employed as an
Assistant Medical Officer on the staff of the Area Medica 1 Officer. Dr. Bodkin is
Deputy Medical Officer of Health for 10% and Area Medical Officer for 90% of her
time.
Comment and statistical information is included in the body of the report. Of
special interest are the infectious disease figures which were the lowest for many
years. The low total of measles notifications probably means that measles is returning
to the pre-war pattern of a 24 month epidemic cycle.
Large scale immunisation against whooping cough was first introduced three
years ago and since then the number of whooping cough notifications has shown a
progressive decline.
One disappointing series of statistics are those relating to road accidents
which show a 17% increase on the total for 1953. The number of deaths caused by road
accidents now exceeds the number caused by tuberculosis.
Housing is still a problem and later in the report reference is made to the
action taken under the Housing Act, 1936, and the Housing, Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.
The observations of the Housing Officer and the Honorary Secretary of the Old People's
Welfare Committee are also included.
The Station Road flatlets for elderly ladies make a valuable contribution to
one of the problems of old age. The flatlets were provided at low initial cost by
converting an old house and are let to 21 elderly ladies who have found the management
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