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3
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1956
which is always likely to recur and the best guarantee is to ensure as
high a proportion of children being immunised as possible.
Probably the most important item of public health legislation
during the year was the introduction of the Food Hygiene Regulations.
Part of these Regulations came into operation in January but
the more important ones did not take effect until July 1st. A good deal
of attention has been given in the Department to the implementation
of these Regulations. It is not to be expected that they will have much
short time effect on general food hygiene; their operation is essentially
long term and will be achieved as much by education and persuasion
of those food traders whose standards of hygiene are lower
than is desirable, as by legislative action. The amount of work entailed
is again very considerable but I have no doubt that in due
course the Regulations will have the effect of raising materially the
general standard of food hygiene in the community.
I should like to take the opportunity briefly of referring to my
former colleague, Dr. W. G. Harding, formerly Deputy Medical
Officer of Health, who, in September, 1956, was appointed as
Divisional Medical Officer to one of the London County Council
Health Divisions. Although Dr. Harding left the Department early
in 1957, it is appropriate that I should make a brief reference to him
in this Report. Dr. Harding came into the service of the Borough on
the same day as I did myself, on the inauguration of the tripartite
form of health administration in this area. He proved himself to
be most helpful to me in our work and I should like to take the
opportunity of thanking him for his assistance and support during
the five years that I had the pleasure of having him as a colleague. He
left Wandsworth with the good wishes for the future of all members
of the staff of the Health Department.
Once, again, I would like to express my thanks to the main Committees
of the Council with whose work I am concerned and particularly,
of course, the Public Health Committee. The Chairman of
the Committee, Mr. T. V. Rowlands, has given me his usual support
and encouragement in the many matters with which we have had to