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and Social Security as well as to the Borough of Hillingdon and special contingency plans were
drawn up so that additional medical staff could be made available from among the Borough's
departmental medical officers to come to the Airport, especially during the night and early hours of
the morning, to supplement the Health Control Unit staff.
Many of the Asians arriving at Heathrow had nowhere to go and special transit camps were
established to receive such persons. These camps had medical screening facilities on the spot and
it was therefore agreed that all Asians who were destined for these camps would be examined at
their destinations, leaving only those who were going to private addresses to be examined at
Heathrow.
This was a great relief and in the event the whole operation was very successful. In fact, the
Unit had seen far busier and more hectic times when in 1968 and 1969 medical examination of
dependant wives and children was first introduced.
During 1972, a start was made upon the in-service training programme for clerk/receptionists
and three courses were held at various times, further details being included elsewhere in this Report.
The new Immigration Act 1971 should have become operative during the year under review.
This Act replaces the Aliens Order of 1953 and the Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1962 and the
same medical provisions will now apply to both former categories of immigrant. The old Forms
Port 12 and Port 23 will be replaced by a single report form. The Immigration Act 1971 will come
into force on 1 st January 1973 and will at the same time provide for Britain's entry into the European
Economic Community.
The Department of Health and Social Security issued a cholera advice notice during the year.
This was to be distributed to all passengers arriving from countries where the condition was being
reported. It obviated the requirement of presenting a valid international cholera certificate at the
port of arrival and as a result, it also did away with the practice of surveillance of those passengers
who had come from cholera-infected areas without valid international certificates.
The difficulties of obtaining adequate accommodation from the British Airports Authority
for the Unit to carry out its function at the Airport have always been recognised and in the past year
protracted negotiations took place between the Borough and the Authority on this subject. It is
gratifying to record that by the end of the year the Health Control Unit had regained the control of
two rest rooms in Terminal 3 and arrangements were in hand to acquire similar accommodation in
Terminals 1 and 2. It is worrying, on the other hand, to note the difficulties experienced in communication
with the Authority. One result of this is frustration due to long delays in attention to sometimes
comparatively minor problems.
The most tragic event during the year was without doubt the accident near Staines to the
BEA Trident on 18th June with the loss of 118 lives. This accident upset the wonderful record that
Heathrow had in regard to the very few fatalities that had occurred over the years, taking into account
the ever increasing number of aircraft movements in and out of the Airport.
It is unhappily reported that "airline passengers are now faced with disturbing evidence that it is
becoming progressively more dangerous to fly on scheduled services because of 'human factors'
which cannot be fully controlled. For the first time since 1950, the safety record of airlines in Western
countries has deteriorated for two years running".
STAFF
Medical Officers
Dr. N. D. Walker resigned from the staff early in the year on his return to New Zealand. In his
place, Dr. C. J. V. Helliwell was appointed and took up duty on 4th April. Dr. Helliwell had previously
been engaged on "locum" duty and was no stranger to the Unit. On 31st December there was one
vacancy on the establishment.
Receptionists
At the end of 1971, authority had been received from the Department of Health and Social
Security for an additional twelve receptionists, bringing the establishment up from 65 to 77.
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