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Boroughs—in July all M. & C.W. functions, Day Nurseries,
Chiropodists, Home and Domestic Helps, Welfare Centres,
Cleaners and Caretakers were transferred to the London County
Council, and the Tuberculosis Medical Officer, Dispensary,
Clerk and Caretaker were transferred to the Regional Hospital
Board. Whether centralisation of control of the Personal Health
Services would prove as efficient as the original local control
remained to be seen.
Under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, and
with certain safeguards, power was given to remove compulsorily
from their homes, aged or infirm persons unable to care for
themselves.
In July, 1948, following the changes resulting from the
transfer of functions under the National Health Service Act, Dr.
Waldron took up his appointment with the London County
Council as Divisional Medical Officer for Division 6. He
continued, however, to act in a part-time capacity as Medical
Officer of Health for the Borough until June, 1949, when the
present Medical Officer assumed responsibility.
Power was given under the Housing Act of 1949, to enable
local authorities to make grants to owners of dwellings for
improvements or conversions of their properties.
During 1949, much legislation was introduced to ensure a
purer and more wholesome supply of milk to the public and an
attempt to standardise Rodent Control was made by the introduction of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, which
became operative early in 1950.
In commenting upon the provision of hot midday meals for
old people by the B.R.C.S., the Medical Officer expressed the
hope that the service would be extended to the bedridden invalids
of all ages now that the Council was making its contribution
under Section 31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
With a view to raising the hygienic standards in food and
other premises throughout the Borough to a level above those
strictly enforceable in law, a Guild of Hygiene was inaugurated
in January of 1950 thus providing, in the Council's Jubilee Year,
an appropriate climax to 50 years of solid progress.
In his report for 1950, the Medical Officer strongly recommended full exploitation of B.C.G. Vaccination in order to
achieve similar results with tuberculosis as were obtained with
smallpox. He expressed disapproval of the County Council's
suspension of whooping cough, diphtheria and other prophy-