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became responsible for the local School Health Service in September.
The taking over of the School Health Service necessitated a regrouping
of the staff, and additions to its numbers. It also necessitated
a re-distribution of duties, and placed considerable additional
responsibility on the Department as a whole. The work of the School
Health Service does not properly belong to this report, but opportunity
will be taken to refer to it from time to time as occasion
arises.
1947 was a satisfactory year from the point of view of vital
statistics. The birth rate rose slightly over the rate for the previous
year and is one of the highest yet recorded; the death rate showed no
material alteration. The infantile mortality rate was low for the
second year in succession; indeed, the rates for 1946 and 1947 are the
lowest for any two consecutive years yet recorded. The Infectious
Sickness Rate showed a slight rise, although it was lower than the
average for the past five years. In this field, the most noteworthy
feature was the part which Southgate played in the widespread
epidemic of infantile paralysis during the summer and autumn
months. The fact that only seven cases were recorded, and that all
made a satisfactory recovery, is pleasing.
The arrangements made whereby cases of infectious diseases
are removed to the Finchley, Hornsey, Wood Green and Friern Barnet
Isolation Hospital, proved entirely adequate. The most cordial
relations exist between the Hospital staff and the Public Health
Department, no difficulties having arisen during the year.
The various changes in the staff, most of them due to the merging
of the Maternity and Child Welfare and School Health Services,
will be found set out on page 7 of the Report.
It is impossible in a factual report of this character to deal
adequately with the changes envisaged by the National Health
Service Act. One might, however, be permitted to express the
personal regret, not only of the senior officials of the Public Health
Department, but also of the staff as a whole, that the Borough Council
has had to relinquish its controlling interest in matters which
intimately affect the welfare of the inhabitants. It need scarcely
be said that the staff will continue to devote the same interest to
their work, no matter what authority may be responsible. We none
the less feel the break, and can only hope that the years which lie
ahead will mark the same progress as those during which local
knowledge and experience remained the most important governing
factors.
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