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health administration. This is dictated, not only by the
needs of the individual, but by the need also for economy in
the use of the National Health Service, the cost of which
continues to rise from year to year.
The work of the Bexley, Erith and Crayford Home
Safety Committee continued with the task of spreading
information in regard to causes and prevention of accidents
in the home. The Rotary Club of Bexley, during the year,
presented an exhibition stand to this Committee which is
being used to disseminate propaganda in the form of leaflets
and posters over the area. The stand was made by the Staff
and boys of the Westwood County Secondary School and
our thanks are due both to the Rotary Club and the School
for their help.
The future of the health services in the Borough is
closely linked up with the White paper of May, 1957 on
Functions of County Councils and County District Councils
in England and Wales. The automatic right to delegation
of local health and welfare services to non-county boroughs
and urban districts of 60,000 or more would, if translated
into legislation, bring about a valuable integration of the
personal and environmental services and provide a more
local administration—a matter which has been constantly in
the mind of the Council since the coming into operation
of the National Health Service Act, 1946, on July 5th 1948.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Chairman and Members
of the Health Committee for their support and
encouragement, and the Chief Public Health Inspector,
Chief Clerk and all members of the Health Department for
their excellent service during the year.
I am,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN LANDON,
Medical Officer of Health.
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