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dition of social isolation manifests itself. Elderly sick people can receive treatment at
hospital as either an out-patient or as attenders at a day hospital.
Older people can attend day centres under the auspices of the social welfare
services. However the older person isolated in the community is reluctant and even
refuses to go along to either a day hospital or day centre. Therefore you decided to
create a day unit for older people who had been medically assessed at the Maddison
Clinic, Teddington, to give them an opportunity to re-establish themselves from social
isolation and in time take part again in local community activities. It is still too early
to draw firm conclusions about the results of this project.
The decline in the incidence of the major infectious diseases in this country has
been brought about by planned, concerted immunisation programmes. German measles
is on the whole mild infection. However, if a mother in early pregnancy who has little
or no immunity to the disease is exposed to the infection and develops the clinical
features, then the risk to the foetus can be tragic in the extreme. As national public
policy vaccination against german measles is now offered to all young adolescent school
girls.
Pollution and conservation of the environment are of acute public concern and
debate at international, national, regional and local levels. I would direct your attention
to the consistent and sustained effort by the public health inspectorate in their monitoring
of the environment and taking action to prevent nuisances and hazards to the
public health. This diligence is silent but effective.
A small alteration of Borough boundaries was made during the year. Under the
Greater London and Surrey Order 1970 there was a transfer of Thames Ditton Island
from Greater London and Richmond to the County of Surrey and Esher and Platts
Eyot from Surrey and Esher to Greater London and Richmond with effect from 1st
April, 1970.
In accordance with Circular 1/71 paragraph 8(c) it is noted that you took no
further action during the year.
You very kindly gave Dr. Sally Flew, Senior Medical Officer, leave of absence
for six months to be a member of a "Save the Children Fund" team in Nigeria.
The retirements of Mr. H. G. Easter, Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector and
Mr. E. Matthews, Administrative Officer, took place during the year. Mr. Easter had
previously been the Chief Public Health Inspector for the former Borough of Twickenham
since 1953. Mr. Matthews had been Deputy Area Administrative Officer, Area
10, with the former Middlesex County Council, since 1949. We wish them well.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following for their co-operation and
collaboration in the field of community medicine pertaining to, and in the service of,
the residents of Richmond upon Thames:—
The family doctors;
All hospital staff;
All voluntary organisations;
The Chief Officers.
The staff of the health department have worked with diligence. I would especially
thank Dr. Marguerite James, Mr. E. S. Herbert, and Mr. H. J. Pugh.
I conclude by thanking the Social Services and Education Committees, and the
respective Chairmen involved, for their encouragement.
I am,
Yours respectfully,
A. M. NELSON,
Medical Officer of Health and
Principal School Medical Officer.
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