View report page

9
The chances of introduction of smallpox into Britain has substantially
diminished due to the fact that the area of the world in which smallpox now
exists, and the populations in which transmission of smallpox is still occurring,
have been greatly reduced. It is considered that the number of serious complications
from vaccination in childhood, though few, is now out of proportion to
the risk to children from smallpox. The Secretary of State has therefore accepted
the advice of the Joint Committee on vaccination and immunisation that
vaccination against smallpox need not now be recommended as a routine procedure
in early childhood and this procedure has now been discontinued in Lambeth.
Protection will still be offered to travellers to and from areas of the world where
smallpox is endemic or where eradication programmes are in progress.
The movement of population out of the Borough has continued, and it
would appear that since 1965 some 35,000 residents have moved out of the
Borough. Substantial movements of population in and out of the Borough add
to the difficulties of maintaining essential contacts with families and children.
Mr. D.E. Armstrong, principal administrative officer in my Directorate,
retired on 31st January after almost 46 years service, most of it with the London
County Council. Mr. Armstrong obtained his Bachelor of Science degree, which
he passed with first class honours, at the remarkably early age of 19 years. He
entered the service of the London County Council in 1925 as an assistant
scientific officer, only to embark after 3 years on a new career in administration
in the Health Department. Two years later, at the age of 26, he achieved the
distinction of becoming a Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry). Mr. Armstrong
played a considerable part in planning and consolidating the Health Department's
services both before and after the creation of the new London Borough of Lambeth
and he made a major contribution to their subsequent expansion. The smooth
transition of services during the difficult months of reorganisation in 1965 owed
much to his administrative qualities and enabled the changeover to take effect
without any loss of service or inconvenience to the public.
Miss D.M. Barber, assistant principal nursing officer, and non-medical
supervisor of midwives in Lambeth, retired from the joint service of the Council
and the Inner London Education Authority on 31st March, and it is with great
regret that I learned of her death while this report was in preparation.
Miss Barber was an examiner for the Central Midwives Board and had for many
years given lectures on emergency midwifery to all London Ambulance personnel.
I am pleased to have this opportunity of thanking the Chairman and
members of the Health and Protection Committee and other members of the
Council for their interest and support throughout the year. My thanks are also
due to the Chief Executive and my fellow Directors, and I am most grateful for
the co-operation which I have recieved from Dr. A.B. Stewart, Medical Adviser,
Inner London Education Authority and his staff, and to hospital staffs and