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11
duced in August following consultation with the Housing Department
and the Inner London Local Medical Committee, a housing
applicant, who wishes to adduce medical evidence in support, completes
a space specially provided for that purpose on the normal
housing application form instead of approaching his family doctor ;
in such cases the form is then referred to the Health Department for
medical assessment, the general practitioner concerned only being
contacted when further information is needed. Assessment is not
a task to be undertaken lightly in view of the intricate relationship
between health and housing.
Change and the prospect of further change have dominated the
scene in 1971. The Health Department has been radically reshaped
in preparation for the future. Even more radical reorganization
is envisaged in the Consultative Document—issued by the
Secretary of State for Social Services in the late spring—on the
unification of the hospital, general practitioner and local health
authority personal health services in April, 1974. The reports of
the working party on collaboration between the new health and
local authorities and of the study group on future management
arrangements within the health service, which have been established
to examine these two key aspects of reorganization, will be awaited
with keen interest. A great opportunity will have been missed if
the national health service of the future does not bear the stamp
of the local community. The identical composition of the membership
of the Health and Social Services Committees in Wandsworth,
with the same chairman and vice-chairman, seems to me to
symbolise that unity of interest and effort which alone can promote
effectively the community health and welfare.
It is with this theme of local participation very much in mind
that I wish to express my profound gratitude to His Worship the
Mayor, to the Chairman and Members of the Health and Social
Services Committees, and to Members of the Council, generally,
for their unfailing kindness and encouragement. To the Chief
Executive and Town Clerk and to my colleagues in other Departments
of the Council and in the health service as a whole, I extend
my warm thanks for their ever-ready help. Finally, at the end of
an eventful year, I am especially appreciative of the loyal and
diligent support which I have received from the staff of the Health
Department, and not least from my Deputy, Dr. Gordon, and the
Principal Administrative Officer, Mr. Horsnell; I am indeed
grateful to them all.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
HASTINGS E. A. CARSON,
Medical Officer of Health,
and
Principal School Medical Officer.