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Social Welfare.
This is the last complete year during which the Beckenham
Borough Council will administer the personal Health Services. On
the "appointed day"—piesumably 5th July, 1948—the Kent
County Council will become the Local Health Authority to implement
the provisions of Part III of the National Health Service Act, 1946.
At some time in the future it will be of interest to study the record
of Beckenham as a Welfare Authority: the present moment is not
quite opportune, since one cannot with decency hold an inquest while
the patient is still breathing.
It is, however, not an inappropriate time to summarise the indirect
effects of the Public Health Department's activities, which
touch the lives of many of our people at so many different points.
Over a number of years a body of experience and knowledge has been
built up, which has secured the respect of residents, and they have
looked to the Department as a place to which they could come for
help and advice on problems which arose out of health and home conditions,
but which did not lie within the scope of the actual services
administered.
It is not possible to catalogue exactly the number of interviews
given to people who needed help and advice in many different problems
concerned with housing difficulties, domestic problems, the
care of the aged, the adoption of children, the provision of fosterhomes,
the securing of convalescent treatment and other matters.
By reason of its knowledge and contacts and of its outlook, the
Health Department has been able to give this help and advice and to
put people in touch with agencies through which help could be
obtained when the official services could not meet the case. We have
tried to avoid saying "that it is not our job"; we have always tried
to find out whose job it is and to make sure that those who were in
need of help received it.
The Officers of the Department have always been ready to listen
patiently and courteously to the troubles and worries of those who
come to them and in so doing have built up a measure of trust and
confidence.
We do not claim to have been successful in all our efforts, but
without protesting too much, I think we may say that a great deal of
real Social Welfare work has been done. This is not due to any
particular members of the Staff, but to the attitude adopted by all.
Members of the Staff have promoted and organised two voluntary
funds from which a great deal of financial help has been given.
It is hoped that this local interest and enterprise will still be able
to find an outlet, when the administration of the personal health
services passes into other hands.
In conclusion I should like to express my thanks to the members
of the Health and Welfare Committee for their help and consideration,
and to all of the members of my Staff for their loyal, efficient and
whole-hearted support.
T. PHILIPS COLE,
Medical Officer of Health.
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