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1
Town Hall,
Hammersmith, W.6.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,—My annual report
for 1948 deals with a year which, in many ways, is quite
unique. 1948 saw the introduction of the National Health
Services, and it is possible now to comment, at least superficially.
on the changes which have come about.
Whilst the new Service in many ways had no repercussion
on many of the Health Department's activities, its onset
inevitably brought about changes that could not have been
forecast.
Perhaps the most important of these was to bring closer
together the staff of the Fulham Health Department and our
own. By agreement between the two Councils, the medical
staff of each became interchangeable, and therefore familiar
with both services. The benefits of this arrangement have, I
think, been obvious to each Council.
On the 5th July the change-over envisaged in the Act took
place.
The necessary transfer of staff from the Boroughs to the
County proceeded, and the Medical Officers of Health of the
London Boroughs continued their supervisory control of the
transferred services. Their responsibility covered, in particular.
day-to-day administration.
It is pleasing to record that the liaison between the new
Divisional staff of the County Council and ourselves is of the
most cordial and sincere description.
A relationship of this kind makes the introduction of great
administrative changes so much easier and more efficient.
It is gratifying also to note that in the last year of the
Hammersmith Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, the