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drawn up and joint meetings arranged to discuss matters
of mutual interest: and there are many. A whole day
meeting for clergymen, at which the problems of alcoholism
were discussed was so successful that further such talks
are being arranged at the South East London General
Practitioners' Centre, St. Mary's Road. The St. Giles
Centre (formerly the Camberwell Samaritans) of which the
Medical Officer of Health is Vice-Chairman, is filling a
long felt need, not only in providing care, help and
guidance for those in trouble who do not appear to have
been able to obtain help elsewhere, but also as an
ancillary to the health promotional work in the Borough.
Not least, it is helping doctors, clergy, social workers
and others to work in collusion.
A communication sent to all the churches in Camberwell
is summarised below:-
'There never has been a greater need for close Cooperation
by people in all works of life in the preservation
of health and for the more effective care of the sick
and handicapped. It is of special importance that doctors
and social workers, on the one hand, and the clergy and
members of their congregations, on the other, should have
a real and harmonious partnership.
With this object in mind, and with the knowledge
regrettable though it is - that, generally speaking, there
is little effective liaison between the two, a working
party of doctors, clergy and church members, has been
meeting in Camberwell, to discuss these matters and to
suggest lines of action. The working party is in process
of inaugurating a pilot scheme in an area in the Borough'
details of which will be made available in due course.
Account has been taken by the working party of the
remarkable progress in recent years in the means of
preventing and curing sickness, which a comprehensi ve
health service in the welfare state enables all to share.
But this service does not necessarily supply all wants:
there are many gaps, and many unmet needs in the realms
of physical, mental, emotional, moral and spiritual care
and guidance. Voluntary effort is as needful as ever. The
tremendous social changes now taking place - not all of
which are beneficial to health - highlight these needs.
Among the pressing problems which confront us are those
related to alcoholism, cigarette smoking, promiscuity,
delinquency, the aged, and community care of the mentally
ill.