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Health Department,
Town Hall,
Tottenham, N. 15.
To His Worshipful the Mayor,
Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Tottenham.
Mr. Mayor, My Lord, My Lady, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit this my Annual Report on the
health of the Borough for the year ended the 31st December, 1951.
The 1951 census figure showed a further reduction in population
to 126,921 as compared with the last census figure (1931) of
157,772. Notwithstanding this reduction, overcrowding and a high
density rate continue to be the major public health and housing
problems of the Borough.
Utmost co-operation locally between the various administrative
bodies concerned with the National Health Service has been
the constant aim of the department, and by the good will of all
concerned a measure of achievement has been obtained. The close
relations which existed in Tottenham before the Act between the
Prince of Wales's General Hospital and the work of the local
authorities has been maintained and further extended. This is
particularly seen in the care and after care of children and the
aged sick. At the St. Ann's General Hospital co-operation has
been most marked in the establishment there of a supervisory
centre for cases of acute rheumatism in children; and in the
setting-up of a Geriatric Unit of 80 beds for the aged sick.
Sanitary inspectors and area medical auxiliary staffs assist the
work of the hospital in providing reports upon the environmental
conditions, and by a 'follow-up' in the homes of all cases considered
for admission to hospital beds. In the case of the aged
the sanitary inspectors' visits ensure that housing accommodation
temporarily vacated on admission to hospital is available for
re-occupation if and when discharge from hospital is necessary
All interested in the smooth running of the nation's health services
must realise, however, the many and real difficulties that
still exist in a proper sharing of information for the common good
as between the various administrative bodies concerned.
It must be realised too that no parity of importance appears
evident in the public mind as between the preventive and curative