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ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
for the Year 1963
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 1963, and am pleased to report that the statistics
relating to health are very satisfactory.
The mortality figures show the changes in the trend of lung disease, lung cancer continuing its
unwelcome pace with 83 deaths; of these no fewer than 34 were men under 65 years of age. Pulmonary
tuberculosis once described as "a captain of the men of death" was given as the cause of only 5 deaths.
There was a decline in the number of deaths from Bronchitis, and one hopes that this trend will continue
as smoke control advances.
Two cases of Diphtheria were notified, both in the same family, and they had a large number of
school contacts; fortunately, however, their school mates were well immunised and the disease did not
spread.
The Housing Act of 1961 gives powers to the Local Authority to require improvement of, or the
provision of additional sanitary amenities in houses which are occupied by more than one family, and such
houses situated outside the Council's Housing Areas are now being brought up to a more reasonable standard.
More progress has been made towards clean food, and the important work of inspection has done
much to raise the standards in food preparation rooms. The fate of overspill beer was investigated during
the routine inspection of licensed premises, and in one instance it was found that overspill beer was collected
for resale. This was stopped, and it can now be claimed that there is no risk of being served with overspill
beer in Hendon.
During the year there has been a welcome interest in hygiene by members of the public in regard
to better food handling and also in a demand for a reduction in the amount of fouling of the environment
by pigeons and dogs.
During the year much interest has been directed towards the evolution of the new London Borough
of Barnet into which Hendon will merge on 1st April, 1965, and I am sure that the new Council of the
Borough of Barnet will continue the progress that Hendon has made.
I would like to thank the members of the Public Health Committee for their support and encouragement,
and also the members of the staff for their loyal and conscientious service during the year.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. PATTON.
Medical Officer of Health.
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