London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barking 1954

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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Family Doctors (Local Executive Council)
Factory Doctors (Ministry of Labour)
T.B. Health Visitor (Health Area Sub-Committee of County
Health Committee)
District Nurse (Training Homes Sub-Committee of
County Health Committee)
Sanitary Inspector (Borough Council)
Housing Officer (Borough Council for "Old" Barking.
L.C.C. for Becontree Estate)
Important individuals not included in the list include he Director
of the Mass X-ray Unit (Regional Hospital Board) and the Disablement
Resettlement Officer (local office of Ministry of Labour).
I should like to stress the very good co-operation which exists
between the Chest Physician and myself, and once again to thank Dr.
Paterson for his ever ready and willing help throughout he year.
Difficulties with others, when they arise, spring from division in
administrative responsibility rather than from any lack of a spirit of
co-operation, and with housing problems the fault probably lies more
in general shortage of accommodation than in divided responsibilities
at the Becontree end of the Borough.
ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MASSAGE AMD
SPECIAL TREATMENT
Licences were renewed during the year in respect of the four
establishments which are governed by the Borough's bye laws.
PROBLEM FAMILIES
Last year I reported the setting up of a co-ordinating committee
in connection with problem families and children neglected in their
own homes. This Committee has now been functioning for eighteen
months and all are agreed that though it is not th whole answer,
much useful work has been done. It has proved most helpful to meet
together, to pool our ideas and co-ordinate our activities, but we had
already reached the conclusion that something more was needed when
in November the Ministry of Health issued Circular 27/54. In this
the Minister suggested that authorities should consider whether their
Health Visiting Service could be re-deployed, so that more time was
devoted to those families where problems are likely to arise or were
known to exist. It also recommended that local authorities should use
any existing voluntary services to assist in this work and, where
necessary, appoint a specially qualified worker.
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