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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Tottenham, N. 15.
30th July, 1962
To the Worshipful the Mayor,
Aldermen and Councillors.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my duty and pleasure to submit this my twenty-fifth Annual Report on the
administration of the environmental and personal health services within the Borough.
The population as estimated by the Registrar General was 113,480 a decrease of
1,550 on the previous year.
The birth rate of 16.91 was the highest since 1948. Illegitimate births rose
from the previous highest figure in 1960 of 8.5 to 9.8 per cent, which can only be
regarded as a social problem of grave public concern.
A further disturbing feature was an overall rise in the infantile death rate to
26.58 per thousand live births: the highest since the year 1947.
Much discussion has taken place, nationally and locally, on how existing maternity
services may be further improved. Some of the more urgent local problems are set out
in the body of this Report. Special stress is placed on the shortage of domiciliary
midwives; and consequent physical exhaustion at times of those who, though depleted in
number, have had to cope with the needs of a rising birth rate and a growing trend for
early discharge of mother and infant from maternity hospitals necessary to enable a
quicker turn-over of beds. Unsuitable housing and other adverse social problems, not
least of which are those associated with immigration, aggravate the present general
shortage of hospital maternity beds.
The health of children of all ages has been well maintained. Apart from an
outbreak of measles, which was anticipated, no epidemic occurred during the year. As
a matter for encouragement, but not complacency, a higher acceptance rate for vaccination
and immunisation was noted. Adversely the condition of children's teeth showed
deterioration. The recently published results of a five year study in Britain on
fluoridation of water supplies, would seem to open the way to make this highly
successful means of preventing dental caries available to a wider, or indeed the whole,
population. The Tottenham Education Committee some years ago pressed for action to
implement this urgent public health measure being satisfied then as to the claims
made for it in other parts of the world.
As early pioneers in the establishment of special schools for handicapped children
the Council will note with interest the progress outlined in the school health section
of this Report. Equally they will have much cause for satisfaction in recalling their
pioneer efforts for supervision of the health of mothers and young children, the work
of health visitors and building of clinics and centres when legislation to do so was
merely permissive and not as it has been since 1948 obligatory on the local authority
to make such provision.
At the other extreme of life much has been done locally for the health and well
being of senior citizens. The aim of voluntary organisations such as the Old People s
Welfare Committee is to make the years of retirement a happy and worthwhile experience,