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8
The new London Borough of Harrow retained the original boundaries
of the former Borough of Harrow without addition or subtraction. As a
result, the comparison of vital statistics with those of previous years still
remains valid. There was a population decrease of 650 to the figure of
209,600 and a birth and death rate practically the same as 1964—there
being a 0.1 decrease in birth rate and a 0.1 increase in the death rate.
It is pleasing to note that the downward trend in the infant mortality
rate noted in 1963 and 1964 continued in 1965, with a fall from 12.2 to
10.0 per 1,000 live births. This reduction in infant mortality is also reflected
in the lower neo-natal and early neo-natal mortality rates.
Health Education has always been considered to be of primary
importance in the work of the department. In the period 1948 to 1965, the
Borough Health Department concentrated on environmental hygiene, but
at the same time worked in close liaison with the local staff of the County
Council dealing with the delegated functions of the personal and school
health services. The natural outcome of the amalgamation was the setting
up of a health education section of the department and the provision in
the establishment for a post of a health education officer. This section's
activities permeate into all other sections and the resulting co-operative
effort produces the material for the particular health education project.
The new lecture room at Hanover House has proved to be invaluable in
this work—being used for many purposes, such as the preparation of
display material for outside projects, exhibition room, teaching and conference
room—in fact it is the hub of the health education effort.
During the year, two projects initiated under the Middlesex County
Council's ten-year development programme for Health and Welfare Services
and taken over by the new Borough, were completed and brought
into use. One was the new clinic in Northolt Road, built to provide clinic
facilities in the South Harrow district and replace those previously provided
in the Baptist Church Hall. At the same time, it was possible to reorganise
the school clinic provision and bring the services into closer
relationship with the local schools in the district. In addition, the dental
clinic held in very unsatisfactory premises in Roxeth Hill was closed and
the service transferred to Northolt Road. The second project was the
Home for the Elderly opened in December at Vernon Lodge. This is a
designated home for fifty-two residents of the Borough who on account
of age and infirmity cannot manage to live in their own homes and require
that extra care and attention provided by such a home. The intake of residents
had to be very gradual, being geared to the number of staff available
in the home. Recruitment of all categories of staff was, and unfortuantely
still is, very difficult. By the end of the year the number in residence was
17 and it certainly does seem a great pity that a scheme so worth while
and so much needed cannot be brought into full operation simply because
of the lack of staff. A further Home is scheduled to be completed in 1966.
This is situated in Brookshill, Harrow Weald, and will provide accommodation
for 60 residents. One sincerely hopes that the staffing situation
will have improved by the time it is ready to receive its first guests!