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ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
for the year I960
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Hendon
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Report for the year 1960.
During the year the health statistics were good. The population figure for the
1961 Census is 151,500. One realises that the Registrar-General's estimates of population
for each of the previous ten years have been very accurate.
Of special interest is the decline in poliomyelitis. During the year 1960 no case of
this disease was notified, and this remarkable achievement must be due to the success of
the enthusiastic immunisation campaign. The national average acceptance rate for
poliomyelitis immunisation, age group 0-18 years, in England and Wales is 77%
(31st March 1961) and in districts where this average has been achieved or exceeded
no epidemic of polio has occurred, a finding which suggests that the child least
likely to get polio is the one who is himself immunised and whose playmates and
associates are also immunised. The comparable acceptance rate for Middlesex is 83%.
The living conditions in the Borough show a gradual improvement and year by
year one sees the benefits of redevelopment. The Council's redevelopment of the
New Brent Street area made great progress during 1960. Here several streets of wornout
houses have been removed and replaced by modern living conditions in a new and
stimulating environment.
Clean Air is a matter of increased public enthusiasm and a study of the records
kept at the Smoke Measuring Stations during the last three years shows a progressive
improvement which, to the public in general, is also demonstrated fay fewer fogs in
winter and possibly also by more sunshine in summer. No local measurement is made
of the amount of sunlight, but there does appear to be an increase in the number of
people who wear sunglasses.
The interest in Clean Air is causing a demand for the control of garden bonfires
and there is scope for some improvement in the disposal of garden refuse in built-up
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