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To: The Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the London
Borough of Hillingdon.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In accordance with statutory requirements, I present this Report on the work of the Health and
Welfare Department for the year 1969, and I commend it to your attention. During the entire period
covered by the Report the Department was administered by my predecessor Dr. O. C. Dobson, who
died after a short illness on 8th November, 1970.
Oswald Christopher Dobson was born in County Durham on 7th November 1903, received his
medical education at the University of Durham and subsequently obtained the qualifications M.D.,
B.Hy. and D.P.H. In later years he continued academic studies in law and in administration obtaining
the Diploma in Public Administration (University of London) and becoming a Barrister-at-Law at
the Middle Temple. His career in his chosen speciality of Public Health was a distinguished one and
he spent most of his professional life working in the County of Middlesex. He was Medical Officer
of Health at Brentford and Chiswick, and Deputy Medical Officer of Health at Harrow before becoming
Area Medical Officer (Area 8) and Medical Officer of Health at Ruislip/Northwood and at
Uxbridge. From 1st April, 1965 he took up executive duties as the first Medical Officer of Health of
the London Borough of Hillingdon, and guided the development of the new Department from its
outset. His energies were not limited to the administration of a large Department, and he maintained
essential professional contacts with local Hospitals and with general practitioners. Through the
Association of London Boroughs Medical Officers of Health he represented his colleagues on Committees
of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and the Middlesex Executive
Council as well as a number of other organisations. His interest in local voluntary Societies was well
known, and much admired. Dr. Dobson retired from the Council's service on 26th June 1970. His
subsequent admission to Hospital so early in his retirement and his sudden death during an apparent
period of recovery has caused great sadness to all who knew him.
The Department of Health and Social Security have indicated certain matters upon which
comment should be made, and these items are covered in the text of the Report. I commend to your
interest the details given concerning the Observation Register and the notification of congenital
defects. The Council has accepted the principle of fluoridation of the public water supplies in Hillingdon,
but in the absence of agreement amongst all Authorities who receive supplies from the Water
Companies in the area, it has not yet been possible for this valuable contribution to the dental health
of the community to be made available to Hillingdon residents. During the year one more liaison
scheme between the District Nursing Service and a group of general practitioners was introduced.
The advantages anticipated from such a scheme have been realised, and requests from local doctors
for the attachment of nursing staff currently exceed those which the Department is able to meet.
The vital statistics show, once again, generally favourable rates compared with those recorded
for England and Wales. It is necessary, however, to draw attention to the trend in mortality statistics
during the first year of life. Figures now available for the first five years of the new Borough show
an unmistakable upward trend which is the reverse of national experience. The relatively small numbers
involved in any one year necessarily raise the question of statistical artifact, but it would be unwise
for such a trend to be ignored. A detailed investigation of all infant deaths for the year 1969 has been
undertaken at my request, but has failed to reveal any obvious factor. A review of all the services
is continuing in order to determine whether any improvements are necessary. At the same time the
apparent association between these adverse trends and shortages of key staff which are now being
remedied should not be overlooked. Moreover these observations may be a salutary reminder of the
value of the preventive work undertaken by medical and nursing personnel in Local Government
at a time when the need for their contribution seems increasingly to be questioned.