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Clerical Staff Mrs. E. A. Best.
Mrs. D. Foster. (Resigned August,
1950).
Miss C. Mawbey.
Miss A. Keen. (Appointed October
1950).
Miss A. Hobbs. (Appointed
October, 1950).
Rodent Operators W. J. E. Wickenden.
E. J. Read.
Disinfector-General Assistant J. Symonds.
Mortuary Attendant—General
Assistant A. L. Jarvis. (Appointed July,
1950).
INTRODUCTION.
THE Report for 1950 is the last report which I shall have the honour
to submit. It is the twenty-fourth annual report which I have
prepared, and, like its immediate predecessors is concerned with
only a portion of the health services which are carried on in the BoroughIt
was not always thus: until 1948, the Annual Report of the Medical
Officer of Health was a comprehensive one which dealt in detail with
almost every aspect of Public Health.
Until that time, the Health Services in Beckenham were developed
and administered by Beckenham residents, people who had a personal
knowledge of their fellow citizens and a natural interest in their particular
needs and welfare. I am not suggesting that the Services have
declined in efficiency in any way since they were transferred to more
distant authority, but it would be idle to pretend that it is possible"1
maintain that intimate contact with the people which was so characteristic
a part of the old local administration, and which enabled one so
frequently to adjust the provisions of the services to suit the special
needs of a particular person, instead of having to adhere to sets of
regulations and to try to force all cases within their rigid framework.
Beckenham has had only two whole-time Medical Officers of
Health. My predecessor, Dr. J. M. Clements was appointed to advise
the Council on the best practical steps to take to implement the new
powers which were being conferred on Local Government Authorities
for the care of the health of school children and of mothers and infants.
During his tenure of office, the Council laid the foundations of a complete
and highly efficient Public Health Service; during my years in
Beckenham, additional powers were granted and the services
expanded and adapted to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population.
Now, those services have been transferred and the need for a wholetime
Medical Officer of Health has ceased to exist.
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