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The Council will be well aware that the personal health services
are now under the control of the Middlesex County Council.
Although this is so, the Borough Council has always shown the
keenest interest in all matters affecting health, either personal or
environmental. For this reason, and with the permission of the
County Council, I have included as Appendix 5 to this Report a
copy of a document which 1 presented to the Area Health Committee
of Area No. 2. This document seis out in brief the work
carried out in the Area, of which Southgate makes up a substantial
part, during 1953. I am sure the Council would wish to have these
facts, since without them the health picture for the year would
obviously be incomplete.
Although it does not come within the purview of this Report,
it might be stated here that important changes are foreshadowed
for 1954. The anticipated coming into operation of new legislation
in regard to food hygiene and housing will throw added
responsibility on the Council, and will be directly reflected in the
work of the Public Health Department. It may even be that more
far-reaching changes will come about in the structure of local
government as a whole. No more may be said on these issues at
the moment, although one might dare to suggest that the present
system of local government, particularly so far as public health
is affected, leaves much to be desired.
The vital statistics for 1953 do not call for much comment.
The birth rate rose from 10.37 to 1.1.48, although this may be
regarded as a mixed blessing. The death rate fell from 10.55 to
9.18. Here, of course, fluctuation over such a short period cannot
be said to have much significance. The infantile mortality rate is
higher than has been the case for several years although, with such
small totals, it only requires a very small increase to raise the rate
out of all proportion.
The number of measles cases reported during the year (1,073)
is the highest we can find as having been recorded in Southgate.
This was part of a nation-wide epidemic and should at least mean
that the number of cases will fall materially during the next twelve
months. As I have already stated, the significant feature of the
epidemic was the fact that the complication and death rates were
minimal, the disease having little more than nuisance value.
It is once again my pleasing duty to express my sincere thanks
to the Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough Council, and to
the members of the Public Health Committee for their continued
support. It is indeed a pleasure to receive this support in such
generous measure, and to realise that due weight is given to any
suggestion which may be put forward.
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