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In 1948 Dr. Waldron was appointed Divisional Medical Officer (Division 6 L.C.C.),
a post he held, together with that of M.O.H., until June, 1949, when a new appointment
was made to the latter post. He was at that time responsible for the organisation
of transfer of services (maternal and child health) to the L.C.C. and for the organisation
and co-ordination of services in the new Division (Deptford, Greenwich and
Woolwich). Some main new approaches at this time included the initiation of liaison
groups involving hospital consultants, general practitioners and medical and nursing
representatives of the Division.
Between 1949 and 1950 Dr. Waldron became a member of the Greenwich and
Deptford Hospital Management Committee, and subsequently became its vicechairman,
a post which he held until his retirement.
About 1953 Dr. Waldron initiated local consultation at officer level between
statutory and voluntary bodies on problem families. This later became the
"co-ordinating committee".
The year 1954-55 saw Dr. Waldron elected as President of the Metropolitan
Branch of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Another honour was accorded
to him in 1956-57 when he became President of the West Kent Medico-Chirurgical
Society.
A scheme of attachment for general practitioners to local authority centres was
started by Dr. Waldron in 1956. This developed and became the pattern throughout
the Division by 1962. It was used as an example in other areas. In anticipation of
the Mental Health Act, 1959, he initiated a special discussion group of consultant
psychiatrists, general practitioners, divisional medical, nursing and social worker
staff and voluntary bodies in 1958.
The London Government Act, 1963, which reorganised and reshaped the pattern
of administration of local government in the London area created a vast number of
problems, particularly so for Dr. Waldron because in September, 1964, he became
part-time M.O.H. for the Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham in addition to his
other appointments (£ M.O.H. Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham, \ M.O.H.
London Borough of Lewisham and J Divisional Medical Officer, L.C.C.). During
September, 1964, he placed the first report on the proposed organisation, function
and approach to the installation of the new Health Department before the new
Health Committee.
On 1st April, 1965, the Health Department of the London Borough of Lewisham
commenced to function.
The last three years have seen the continuing development of the Health Department's
services, and many new schemes have been adopted and brought into
operation based on the administrative foundations so well laid down under
Dr. Waldron's leadership.
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