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health problems and Public Health In its early days was almost entirely an environmental
health service.
At the beginning of this century it became apparent that there was an enormous
amount of sickness and death amongst mothers, infants and young children and Public
Health has since been concerned with developing the personal and school health services,
which have played their part in bringing about a great improvement in physical health
of mothers and children in this country.
The main problems of community health which are with us today concern, in the main,
mental ill-health. Something like half the hospital beds in the country are occupied
by patients suffering from a mental disorder and it is estimated that a third of all
general practitioner's prescriptions are for sedative-hypnotic and tranquiliser types
of drugs prescribed in the management of mental disorders. Public Health is now faced
with the problems of how to play its part in treatment and support by its after-care
services of mental disorder in the community and also to take the lead in developing a
preventive service for mental health.
Prevention of mental ill-health will largely be undertaken by assisting the
emotional growth of children in families in which there are emotional tensions. Health
Visitors are learning to detect and help these families and during 1960 case conferences
were begun at the Child Guidance Clinic in Walthamstow; and Claybury Hospital have
greatly assisted by courses designed to increase the Health Visitors understanding of
the causation and manifestations of psycho-neurosis.
It is hoped in future reports to describe more fully the trends and developments
in the service in a preamble, and for the main body of the report to contain mainly
statistical and detailed information concerning the services.
I am grateful to all members of the staff for their loyal co-operation and to
officers of other departments for their help in all matters in which they have come
into contact with the Health Department.
I would also like to express my appreciation of the helpful and constructive
understanding which I have received from the members of the Council.
I am, Mr.Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
G.T.CROOK,
Medical Officer of Health.
Health Offices,
Sidmouth Road,
Leyton, E. 10.
Telephone: LEYtonstone 3650.
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