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1
THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
Telephone: WEStern 7211 Health and Welfare Department,
25A Kensington Square,
London, W.8.
November, 1966.
To: The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
My Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in presenting the Annual Report on the state of the public
health and welfare in Kensington and Chelsea for 1965. This is the first of a new series
following the amalgamation of the former boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea in accordance
with the London Government Act, 1963.
The Minister of Health has requested (Circular 1/66) that the report should be
generally in the same form as has been the case for some years past.
Although the new borough came into effect on 1st April, 1965, by arrangement
with the former authorities it has been possible to include data relevant to the first quarterof
the year 1965 and so provide a review for the complete twelve months.
The Council decided to integrate their health and welfare functions in one department under my direction and, in the early part of the year, the staff of the department
were underpressure in organising the amalgamation of the former health services of the boroughs
of Kensington and Chelsea and absorbing the functions of the former London County Council
in relation to the personal health services under the National Health Service Act,1946, and
the welfare services under the National Assistance Act, 1948. It is sufficient to say that,
in spite of the difficulties resulting from the reorganisation of London Government, the health
and welfare services available to the residents of the new borough of Kensington and Chelsea
were continued without diminution of volume or efficiency. I would like to take this opportunity to record my sincere appreciation of all the hard work and enthusiasm of the staff of
the department which achieved this satisfactory position.
Throughout the report, it has been difficult to make statistical comparisons with
previous years, as the records kept by the new borough's predecessors were not of the same
pattern in many instances. It will, of course, be possible in future years to provide this
comparative information, on an increasingly comprehensive scale, to enable an assessment
to be made as to whether the services involved need amending or building up in any particular
direction.
In view of the fact that this is the first annual health and welfare report of the
new borough, an attempt has been made to include descriptive accounts of the work carried
out, in much greater detail than will be necessary in future years. I feel that the Council
would wish me to do this as the greater amount of information made available to persons and
organisations working for the health and welfare of the new borough, will prove invaluable
at this stage of London reorganisation.
As a principle, the London Government Act, 1963, requires the new London
boroughs to carry out the same or equivalent functions as had been administered by their
predecessors. This requirement has persuaded me to submit this report in a form containing
certain main sections, corresponding approximately with the services which had to be absorbed
in the new Health and Welfare Department as follows:-
(a) Environmental health services - which were taken over from the
former Kensington and Chelsea Borough Councils;