View report page

12
Reference is made in the body of the report to the extensive campaign on
food hygiene which was begun in the latter part of the year. The booklets
prepared by the department had a wide circulation and aroused much interest.
It is gratifying to note that many enquiries came from outside the Borough, e.g.
from training establishments, schools and voluntary organisations. It is evident
from experience gained in promoting this campaign that, to be effective, information
and advice must be in simple basic terms using all forms of media to gain the
interest of the food handlers and the general public. It is also essential that
efforts should be persistent and continuous. My thanks are due to the Council's
Public Relations Officer and his staff for the help and advice given.
For the greater part of 1967 the department continued to function geographically
in two parts, the personal health services at Blue Star House and the environmental
health services at Offley Road. However at the end of the year the environmental
services moved into offices at Blue Star House. It is now possible for the
department to operate as one unit with all its advantages.
Shortage of field staff, particularly health visitors, continues to be a problem
although in the latter part of the year there was a slight improvement. Plans are
in hand to sponsor a larger number of student health visitors and it is hoped
that when they qualify they will join the staff of the department and so alleviate
the present situation.
Two senior members of the staff of the department retired during the year;
Miss B. Thorn, Principal Nursing Officer and Miss C.A. Budd, Deputy Principal
Mental Health Social Worker. Miss Thorn had served Lambeth for more than
twenty years, first as superintendent health visitor in the Metropolitan Borough,
then as Principal Nursing Officer in Division 8 of the former London County
Council and latterly in a similar capacity with the London Borough of Lambeth.
The whole of Miss Budd's thirty years' service, most of it with the London
County Council, was devoted to the welfare of the mentally subnormal. The
experience of both these officers has been of particular value in the setting up of
the new department, and during its first 2x/i years.
I am pleased to acknowledge with gratitude the encouragement and help given
to me by the Chairman and members of the Health Committee and the support and
interest of all other members of the Council.
My thanks are also due to the other Chief Officersof the Council, to Dr. A.B.
Stewart, Medical Adviser to the Inner London Education Authority, and his staff,
to general practitioners and hospital staffs with whom the department is in daily
contact and finally to the members of the staff of the Health Department for their
loyal and conscientious service.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
A.L. TIIROWKR
Medical Officer of Health.