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I wish to place on record at this point the retirement of Miss E. A. S. Davies, Superintendent of the Welfare Clinics.
Miss Davies was a pioneer in infant welfare work and was engaged in this work before health visitors were officially
recognised. It must be gratifying to Miss Davies to know of the great inprovement in the child health which has
occurred during her time of office. Miss Davies was a well-loved figure in the Maternity and Child Welfare Service and
gave 25 years distinguished service to the mothers and children of Paddington. It is to be hoped that Miss Davies'
health will improve during her retirement, which was brought about by her poor health.
During the year we experienced in this country the most widespread outbreak of polio-myelitis so far experienced.
Paddington was fortunate in that only 25 cases of polio-myelitis and polio-encephalitis were recorded with one death.
Compared with other Boroughs in the London region Paddington was favourably placed.
There are many other interesting items to be found in the index, and these are mentioned in some detail in the
body of the Report.
About the time of the presentation of this Report the Maternity and Child Welfare Services will, under the terms
of the National Health Service Act, 1946, be transferred to the control of the County Council. The transfer of this
personal health service to the larger authority has been the subject of much debate. On the one hand there are certain
advantages to be obtained by operation through a large authority. On the other hand there is the danger that such
a personal service might be damaged by reason of the size of the new organisation. It is gratifying to note that the
County Council proposes to de-centralise the running of the personal health service. Paddington Borough Council
will be represented on the Divisional Health Committee, dealing with the transferred functions, which include not only
Maternity and Child Welfare but other personal health services, and it is gratifying to note that the staff responsible
for the operation of these services will continue to work in the Paddington district. The proposals made ensure that the
happy relationship between staff and public which has existed in the past will continue under the new arrangements.
The Tuberculosis service will pass partly to the Regional Hospital Board and partly tothe County Council, and provision
has been made for the continuation of the Voluntary Care Committee. No one had ever found it possible to defend
the splitting up of the Public Health services in London under the previous legislation, and although a considerable
effort has been made to remedy obvious defects this has only been achieved by creating others. The environmental
health work which was previously attached to Maternity and Child Welfare and Tuberculosis work through the Borough
Health Service is now left in isolation, almost completely divorced from the other branches of Public Health. Environmental
hygiene has always been a most important part, and indeed part of the basis of the work of a Public Health
Department. One can only hope that at some early date means will be found whereby this unnatural severance of
environmental hygiene from the rest of the Health service can be remedied.
Finally, I can assure the Council that the members of the staff, individually and collectively, by the spirit in which
they work, will ensure the successful operation of the Health services whatever authority they may be working for,
either Borough Council, the Regional Hospital Board, or the County Council.
I would like to place on record my personal thanks to the Council, and particularly the Chairman and members
of the Committees concerned with Public Health matters, for their spirit and encouragement. I am happy to record
that the Chief Officers and members of all Departments of the Borough Council have given me, and members of my
Department, every assistance during the year, and I have much pleasure in expressing thanks on behalf of this
Department.
I have the honour to be—
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Department,
15, Park Place Villas,
Paddington Green, W.2.
22nd May, 1948.