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13
solution is apparent. In the meantime, premises and equipment
are being improved where possible.
In this first year of operation the advantages of a combined
health and welfare department are becoming increasingly apparent.
The whole area of health and welfare is being encompassed within
the same headquarters and each of the many specialists can consult
and co-operate as equal colleagues with one another in the same
department. The concept of a unified domiciliary team providing
a comprehensive integrated health and welfare family service is
being evolved, and once the necessary administrative and professional
adjustments have been made to the new circumstances, the
prospect of a balanced co-ordinated service being available to all
citizens, with no arbitrary line of demarcation between health and
welfare and with an absence of professional or departmental
misunderstandings, are bright and promising. This co-operative
team effort is being actively encouraged in the Department and the
early results are heartening.
What of the future of this newly created comprehensive social
services structure in the Department? It is perhaps too early to be
dogmatic but, experience gained during the first year, is tending
to emphasize the fact that full integration of the health and welfare
services is not only rational but that any division between medical
and social necessity is illusory and that social breakdown and
conditions of health are inalienable. It has been made abundantly
clear that family social work is an integral part of public health
and, as now undertaken by the department, represents the most
economical and advantageous deployment of available personnel
for a comprehensive, all-embracing community social service while
largely avoiding the former duplication of effort. Furthermore,
despite the benefits already apparent, it is clear that we have yet
to witness the full advantages accruing from an integrated service.
It may well be that, in the future, complete exploitation of our
existing services will be hampered by limited resources and a
paucity of trained personnel but there is no doubt that the
co-ordination now being achieved is the way to success.
This has been an arduous year for both members and staff
and I am deeply sensible of the help and encouragement which I
have received from the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Health
and Welfare Committees. The members of these Committees have
also had many difficult problems to solve and policy to determine,
and I trust that this account of the work which they have
authorised will provide a measure of satisfaction. In paying tribute
to all who serve in the Department I am conscious of a sense of
inadequacy. The selfless devotion to duty of many of the staff.