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129
SECTION V
COMMUNITY CARE
There has been little time to appraise the Local Authorities
Social Services Act (based upon the Seebohm Report) which is
shortly to come into operation, and to estimate its eventual impact
on existing services. With the introduction of this Act and the
publication of a second "green paper" on the health services, a
pattern is emerging which envisages the unification, outside local
government, of the three branches of health services and the welding
of present welfare and social facilities into a composite "Social
Services" department within the ambit of local authorities.
Whilst some realignment of local authority services may well be
deemed necessary for particular tardy councils or where (local
government reorganisation has yet to foe implemented, there would
appear to be little advantage, if any, to be gained by such alteration
to the health, welfare and social services of this Borough.
Creation of uncertainty concerning the ultimate fate of existing
services, besides being disruptive to departments generally, gives
rise to misgivings and affects recruitment and staff morale—but
to what purpose? Certainly before any reorganisation takes place
it should be clearly demonstrated that the resultant changes would
produce a better and more effective service to the public.
Too often it has been found that "compartmentation" detracts
from the care and attention a person receives from official sources
and extensions of the practice ought not to be encouraged in
spheres of public service which, when combined, are likely to have
greater beneficial influence than if separately applied.
"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Such
is the definition given by W.H.O. which, by implication, recognises
that a division between medical and social necessity is largely
artificial and illusory. Indeed, even the Seebohm Committee itself
stated "the present barriers between departments and specialisms
should be broken down" and, furthermore, in more than 50 other
paragraphs of its Report, emphasised the inseparable relationship
between health and "social" services.
Ever since 1965, this department has been unswervingly dedicated
towards the object of the provision of "One Door" through