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9
The inclusion of a part of the former metropolitan borough of Wandsworth in
the new Lambeth resulted in a number of special difficulties in the reorganisation
of those services which were previously related to the borough boundary. Not only
were maternity and child welfare centres in the transferred part of Wandsworth of a
generally poor standard, without satisfactory accommodation for health visitors,
but they were badly sited in relation to the new boundary. Some considerable
time must elapse before these disadvantages can be overcome, but plans are
already being made to this end.
The reorganisation of the mental health services presented particular
difficulty in that the London County Council's mental health services were
organised on a county wide basis, and the premises used for these services
adult and junior training centres for the mentally sub-normal, day centres for
the mentally ill, and hostels - were unevenly distributed. Lambeth inherited no
junior training centre, day centre or hostel from the county and thus has had
to rely on facilities provided by other boroughs. While this enabled existing
essential needs to be met, damand for these services is growing and will
continue to grow. If future demands are to be met, premises must be
provided in Lambeth as soon as possible.
The Emergency Service which was set up at the outset by the Town Clerk
has greatly facilitated the operation of the 24-hour service which must be provided
by mental health social workers, domiciliary midwives and 'on-call' medical
officers. The service has made possible the joint provision of an out-of-office
hours mental health and domiciliary midwifery service, by Lambeth and the
adjacent boroughs of Southwark and Wandsworth.
My aim over the remaining months of 1965 was to consolidate the services
as they existed, to plan for their extension and for the introduction of new
services.
I am most appreciative of help given me by Committee 'D' prior to April, 1965,
and I am particularly grateful to the Chairman and members of the Health Committee
and to all members of the Council who have given me so much encouragement and
support.
It must not be fortgotten that the smooth transfer of services was in large
measure due to the guidance of the Joint Working Party on the Personal Health
Services and more particularly to the devoted service and loyalty of both the staff
transferred from the L.C.C. Divisional Health Office 8, and those already in posts
in the metropolitan borough, to whom I pay a special tribute and thanks. I am
indebted to the Chief Officers of other departments for the help they have given
me.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
A.L. THROWER,
Medical Officer of Health