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Twenty hospitals have catchment areas in this Borough: nine are actually sited
within the Borough. There are nearly three hundred general practitioners with
practices in the area or whose surgeries are near the boundary and whose lists
include a number of Southwark residents. There were also a number of health
surveys being conducted on 1st April, 1965. In these circumstances, it was obvious
that every effort should be made to ensure the best possible co-operation from the
professional and administrative points of view. Various conferences took place and
it was decided that liaison or advisory committees should be established. Both
hospital consultants and general practitioners welcomed the proposed arrangements
and promised every assistance in the setting up of the administrative procedure.
The annual report to the Inner London Education Authority about the work
of the school health service has been included by arrangement with that authority.
The amalgamation of the health departments of the three metropolitan
boroughs and parts of two health divisions of the former L.C.C., together with the
taking over of the district nursing services, presented many administrative problems
made particularly difficult by the shortage of experienced staff. Without the understanding
and encouragement of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and members of the
Health Committee supported by the outstanding efforts of my staff, in many cases
far beyond the lines of normal duties, the work set out in this report could not have
been accomplished.
Your obedient Servant,
J. E. EPSOM,
Medical Officer of Health
and
Principal School Medical Officer
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