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CO-ORDINATION OF SERVICES
Co-ordination and co-operation of the Health Department services with family doctor
and hospital services occurs at a number of levels.
At Committee level there is cross-representation of members and officers. For example
the Chairman of the Health Committee serves on the Regional Hospital Board. The ViceChairman
among others serves on the Executive Council and the Medical Officer of Health and
Members of the Health Committee serve on Hospital Management Committees.
Hospital Management Committee Members from two Management Committees are
co-opted on to the Health Committee.
The Medical Officer of Health attends the meetings of the Local Medical Committee
and a family doctor is co-opted on to the Health Committee.
At officer level there are links through the Medical Officer of Health with the Hospital
Medical Advisory and Staff Committees and the Medical Officer of Health serves on the area
Committee of the Association of Hospital Management Committees.
One Consultant from the hospital for mentally subnormal visits the Borough and sees
subnormals at the request of the Health Department.
One specialist visitor (Geriatric Liaison Officer) on the staff of the Medical Officer of
Health is responsible for acting as liaison between the geriatric units, the family doctors and the
Local Authority services.
Health Visitors work in a health centre where a group of family doctors attend and
carry on Infant Welfare Clinics there.
The services of Health Visitors, District Nurses and Midwives are placed at the disposal
of the family doctors as requested, the contact being made either through the Senior Nursing
Staff or directly with the nursing staff concerned.
Following the appointment of Miss Clarke as the Director of Nursing Services discussions
were proceeding with the family doctors as to how to put into operation 'attachment' schemes
for nursing staff in spite of the shortage of health visitors.
The appointment of Miss Lambert who is the Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
at Barking Hospital as Medical Supervisor of Midwives.
During 1972 the scheme allowing the District Midwives to attend cases in Rush Green
Hospital was commenced.
Meetings between Local Health Authority Medical Officers and family doctors who
carry out clinics in the area are held at which common problems and new projects are discussed.
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