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TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS
of the LONDON BOROUGH OF ISLINGTON
The New Public Health Department On 1st April. 1965 the London Borough of
Islington came into being under the London Government Act. 1963. The new department
was formed out of the former Public Health Departments of the Metropolitan Boroughs
of Finsbury and Islington together with the services formerly provided in these
boroughs by the London County Council Public Health Department from its central
office at County Hall, and its Divisional Office No.3. Incorporated with them were
the Home Nursing Service, previously run by the voluntary District Nursing Association,
and some inspectorial duties taken over from the L.C.C. Public Control Department.
From 1st January to 31st March, 1965 the services were under their respective
Medical Officers of Health - Dr. A. B. Stewart. London County Council; Dr. V. Freeman.
Islington and Dr. C.O.S. Blyth Brooke. Finsbury. I am indebted to them for the
information in this report relating to the first three months of 1965. It was with
great pleasure that I learned that Dr. Freeman and Dr. Blyth Brooke had been appointed
as my Associate Medical Officers of Health in the new Borough, and I acknowledge the
advice and help which they unstintingly gave me. Dr. Blyth Brooke retired on 14th
July, 1965, after a distinguished career, to which I refer later. Dr. A.B. Stewart was
appointed Medical Adviser to the Inner London Education Authority and it has been my
pleasure as Principal School Medical Officer to work closely with him on the School
Health Service.
Planning The detailed planning of the new department began in the latter half
of 1964, when appointments were made to key posts in the senior grades. The officers
themselves remained in the employment of their former authorities and were released
for the new work. Although this dual employment received financial recognition, it
subjected the individuals concerned to some not inconsiderable strain, in dealing at
the same time with the administrative problems of running down the expiring departments
and organising the new.
The main planning centred on the temporary office set up by the Borough at Club
Union House at Highbury Corner. Here, almost literally between four walls the embryo
Health, Welfare and Children's Departments took shape, arising from a continuous
series of consultations between the three Chief Officers, and the senior members of
their own staffs and of the Town Clerk's and Borough Treasurer's Departments. Through
the Borough's Group Committees, the principal lines of development were laid down, the
staff establishments drawn up and the financial estimates made.
The documentary materials for planning were the various reports of Working
Parties set up jointly by the Boroughs and the London County Council, supported by the
records of conferences and consultations at many levels. Out of these materials, the
decision of members on policy and the knowledge and experience of officers fashioned
the organisation of the new department which came into operation on 1st April, 1965.
Compared with the intense and sometimes feverish activities of the preparatory months,
the appointed day passed off smoothly and without incident. That this was so was due in
large measure to the staff, especially the field workers, and to the overall concern
throughout that the services to the public should be disturbed as little as possible.
This does not mean that those within the service were not aware of many
difficulties which had still to be overcome. These resulted directly from the
deficiencies of the whole plan for the services for the New London. They could have been
avoided if each new department had been a working unit properly staffed before the
appointed day, and then ready to go immediately into action. Unfortunately the transfer
of duties coincided with a disruption of staff. Former London County Council staff
elected to be transferred to Boroughs nearer their homes, and a considerable proportion
of officers under the County Council and the former Metropolitan Boroughs took up
advertised posts under other authorities which offered better prospects or less
travelling. The same process continued after 1st April, 1965. The result was that much
of the staff establishment had to be built up into a working unit as the year went along.
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