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To turn to staff matters, on the whole the City has been fortunate in recruiting and retaining officers
of a high quality. Unfortunately, however, in certain sections, notably the public health inspectorate
and the day nurseries, constant changes in personnel and continued shortages of staff, inevitably
affected the work undertaken. In circumstances such as these the burden must unfortunately be borne
by the older, but more experienced, members of the staff who remain in the Council's service despite
the temptations of other authorities or employers. By the autumn of 1966 the recruitment situation
has begun to improve and it is hoped that a more stable position has now been reached after the
maelstrom of the past few years.
I cannot close this introduction without recording my very real appreciation of the support and
encouragement I have received from you, my Lord Mayor, and from the Chairman and all Members
of the Health Committee, and indeed of other Committees concerned with the work of the Health
Department. During the first eighteen months of the life of the new Council there were countless
occasions on which it was necessary for me to seek the consent of the Committees to changes or
innovations which I felt would be of benefit to the services provided. I am grateful to the Chairman
and Members for their forbearance, their willing assistance, and constructive criticisms.
I am grateful, too, to the Chief Officers and staffs of other Departments for the help I received during
the period both prior to and since amalgamation. They, too, have had their difficulties, but they have
always been ready to help when this was needed.
Finally, I would pay special tribute to the staff of the Health Department for the excellent way in
which they performed their duties during a most difficult period. Without their willing and unstinting
support the City Council's Health Services could not have been carried on. We face the coming years
as a united team intent on providing an efficient local Health Service in Westminster.
J. H. BRISCOE-SMITH,
Medical Officer of Health.
October, 1966.