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There were 71 less deaths in 1970 and this resulted in a fall in
the death rate per thousand population from 11.50 in 1970 to 11.36
in 1971. Some of the leading causes of death, both in the country as
a whole and in Merton, are cerebro-vascular and cardio-vascular
disease, including coronary heart disease, cancer of the lung and
chronic bronchitis. These particular diseases are aggravated by personal
habits—some of them lethal! It is true to say that the health of
the cigarette smoker is at stake by his or her own personal pollution.
It is clear, therefore, that the need for intensive health education is
paramount so that our young can learn about the importance of trying
to keep healthy before acquiring habits that may eventually result in
personal destruction or reduce their expectation of life span.
The incidence of notifiable infectious diseases was generally
lower than in the previous year and as the reduction was mainly due
to the fall in measles notifications it is hoped that the immunisation
campaign is beginning to affect the incidence of the disease. The only
major outbreak was of dysentery following a school educational cruise
to the Mediterranean in which 600 pupils were involved. This is
reported in detail in the body of the report.
The excellent co-operation of the general practitioners, the public
health inspectors and the ever available support of Dr. Fleck, the
Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service and his staff are a
great help to the Health Department in the control of infection.
Since the implementation of the Local Authority (Social Services)
Act, 1970, on 1st April, 1971, and the establishment of the new
Social Services Department, we have attempted to maintain the closest
collaboration with the Social Services Department so that jointly we
try to meet the needs of the community and give support to the sick,
the aged, the physically handicapped and the mentally disordered.
The Chief Public Health Inspector has reported in detail on the
Environmental Health Section and on the ever increasing volume of
work in his section.
The policy of attachment of health visitors and home nurses to
general practitioners was continued during the year and the Authority
supported the recommendation of the London Boroughs Association
that, whenever possible, health visitors and home nurses should
be allowed to cross authority boundaries in order to visit all patients
of practices to which they are attached, and not merely patients in the
area of the nurses' employing authority. Meetings were held during
the year with neighbouring health authorities to discuss arrangements
for crossing boundaries.
The number of persons aged 65 and over continues to increase
and this affects the demands made on the community nursing services,
particularly the Home Nursing Service. A large number of old people
live alone and when they become ill support from the community
services by day, however good, is not sufficient, so there is a dire need
for a night nursing service.
It is disappointing to record that in spite of every effort to provide
a Health Centre in the Borough it was not possible during the year
to produce a site which was convenient and acceptable to general
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