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Medical Officer of Health, has given much time, including evenings, to the organisation
of first-aid services in co-operation with the St. John Ambulance Brigade and the
British Red Cross Society. Among his duties and those of Dr. Hardy, the Assistant
Medical Officer of Health, are the medical examination of the staff for decontamination
duties and supervision of persons undergoing gas tests.
Other Staff Matters.
The death of Miss Hilda Blick, one of the Council's Health Visitors, in June, 1938,
must be reported with regret. Miss Blick was a particularly competent and energetic
officer, who gave valued service to the Council for nearly twelve years.
The death also occurred, in April, 1938, of Mr. R. Watling, Mortuary Keeper at
the Coroner's Court and Mortuary in Horseferry Road, who had been in the Council's
service for some thirty years.
Miss A. Sanders, Senior Health Visitor and Secretary of the Tuberculosis Care
Committee, retired in March, 1938. After long experience of similar work with
voluntary bodies, Miss Sanders came into the Council's service in 1916, and did
valuable pioneer work at the beginning of the Council's tuberculosis scheme, and a
little later at the opening of its first Maternity and Child Welfare Centre. Her organising
ability and her great knowledge and experience of social work were of high value
to the Council.
In July, 1937, Mr. S. J. Cassidy, a temporary Sanitary Inspector, was placed on
the permanent staff, and Mr. A. J. Allison was appointed to take his place as temporary
Sanitary Inspector.
In February, 1937, Miss P. Arnold was appointed a temporary Health Visitor,
and Miss R. Turner, temporary clerk for maternity and child welfare work. These
additional appointments were made to enable the Health Visitors to devote a larger
proportion of their time to the visiting of children between 2 and 5 years of age.
It is with deep regret that one must refer to the death of Councillor Frank R.
Ridley, J.P., in August, 1937. Councillor Ridley had been for many years a member
of the Public Health Committee, and was its Chairman from 1934 to 1936. In a
full and busy life, with a fine record of public service in many spheres, he devoted
much time and interest to the work of the Public Health Department.
Reference must also be made to the loss due to the death, in December, 1937, of
Miss Elizabeth Haldane, C.H., J.P. Miss Haldane was a recognised authority on
education and nursing services, and a pioneer in voluntary health and social work in
the City. She was for many years a co-opted member of the Maternity and Child
Welfare Sub-Committee, representing the City of Westminster Health Society, which
she had helped to found in 1903.
I would express my gratitude to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Public
Health Committee and of the Housing Committee for their kindness and helpfulness
to me in all that concerns the work performed for these committees by my department.
The staff also deserve praise for the willing and competent manner in which they
have served those two committees throughout the year.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
ANDREW J. SHINNIE,
Medical Officer of Health.
July, 1938