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Medical Officer of Health for the Borough, has played no small part
in achieving results which otherwise would have been wholly
impossible.
I would also like to think the burgesses of Southgate know that
the Public Health Department exists for one reason only, to help
promote better health in the community. I think one can honestly
say that this is the case, and that no burgess feels that a visit or
letter to the Public Health Department will ever pass unnoticed.
Accidents in the home—a menace which is assuming quite
alarming proportions—have continued to occupy our attention. I
have contributed articles on the subject to the local press, while we
have mentioned the importance of accidents in the home and the
ways in which these accidents can be avoided, at various talks
given throughout the year. It will be appreciated, however, that
this is a matter which affects the personal health services rather
more than the environmental health services. Most of the work
has therefore been carried out by members of the Area Health
Staff, particularly Health Visitors at clinics. Apart from the display
of posters and leaflets, a comparatively minor contribution to this
enormous subject, we have particularly stressed the importance of
the use of non-inflammable material. I have been particularly concerned
in trying to persuade the makers of non-inflammable material
to have this material stocked at as many stores in the district as is
possible. In order to encourage mothers to use non-inflammable
material for the making of children's frocks, we have had several
frocks made by voluntary workers and staff at our clinics, so that the
mothers might see how attractive the material is and how it can be
made up into suitable dresses, particularly party dresses for their
young children. In addition, as I mentioned in last year's Annual
Report, we have visited Old People's Clubs to demonstrate the use
of non-inflammable material, since burns in the home most often
occur among the very young and the very old. Although this may
not seem at first sight to be a subject which should come under the
heading of Public Health, it is none the less a vital issue. When
one considers what is being done in the field of immunisation and
vaccination, and when one remembers the quite appalling number
of serious, often fatal, accidents which occur in the home, due
either to burns or to other types of accident, one realises that
anything we can do to reduce this great and increasing risk will be
well worth while.
In conclusion, I would express my sincerest thanks to the Public
Health Committee and to the Borough Council for the continued
courtesy and assistance which I have come to expect as Medical
Officer of Health. I would also express my grateful thanks to every
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