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TO THE
MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS
OF THE
BOROUGH OF SOUTHGATE
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of
Health for the year 1952. Once again, the Annual Report takes the
form in which it has been presented during the past few years.
As I have mentioned before, it is in many ways unfortunate
that the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health no longer
covers such a wide and comprehensive field as that to which we
were accustomed before the war. It will be appreciated that almost
every phase of activity within our boundaries can be said to affect
health, either directly or indirectly. Thus, it is very proper that
the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health should make
mention of such amenities and services as our parks and open
spaces, our open-air swimming bath, and the work of refuse collection
and disposal. It is equally desirable that the report should,
where necessary, make reference to cultural activities and to the
manner in which our leisure time is being occupied.
I am not, however, referring so much to this aspect of the
Report, since conditions have not materially altered, at least in
recent years. I would refer to the fact that the personal health
services, which used to form such an integral and illuminating part
of the Medical Officer's Report, can now only be discussed in a
detached, non-critical manner.
The explanation is, of course, obvious. These services are
provided in Southgate by the Middlesex County Council. The
writer of this report, although Medical Officer of Health for Southgate,
is also an officer of the Middlesex County Council. Criticism
would thus be invidious and, in the circumstances, highly embarrassing
! I do not mean to suggest that there is, in fact, any reason
for criticism. I merely mention the existing situation, so that the
reason for the omission of certain information which used to be
such a prominent feature of my Annual Report will not be
misunderstood.
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