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7
tioned that most of them were more or less distinctly less
prevalent than in the previous year.
Because it saw the coming into operation of the National
Health Service Act, the year 1948 was a very notable one. So
far as the Borough is concerned its effect was to deprive the
Council of participation in a number of health activities in
which their efforts in the past had been attended with conspicuous
success. Prominent amongst the services in which the
Council and its Public Health Department ceased to take active
part at 5th July, the Appointed Day in 1948, were Maternity
and Child Welfare and Tuberculosis. The former with all the
staff of health visitors, the Clinics and the Day Nurseries went
to the London County Council, which became the Local Health
Authority under the Act. The main clinical duties of the
Borough Council in relation to Tuberculosis went to the
Regional Hospital Board.
During the period prior to the handing over on 5th July
the Department continued to carry on as previously. This may
be gathered from the information given under the appropriate
headings in the body of the report. Though I was not here on
the appointed day it has been made clear to me that the
transference took place not without regret on the part of the
Council and its Public Health Committee and the staff of the
department, those who left as well as those who remained.
The smoothness shown in connection with the operation of
handing over of the more personal health services was revealed
also in regard to the concentration on the no less important
duties associated with the giving of attention to and seeking to
improve conditions in the environment of the people, though
it may be noted that in this matter shortage of staff interfered
with their efforts to some extent.
Apart from the National Health Service Act, the year saw
come into operation on the 5th July the National Assistance
Act, 1948, section 50 of which placed upon the Council the
responsibility for providing for the burial or cremation of the
dead in certain circumstances. Between the appointed day and
the end of the year the Public Health Department was called
upon to deal with seven cases, most of the persons having died
in hospital and being either without relatives or without any
possessing the means to carry out the burial,