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Health and welfare Department,
9 Brampton road
Bexleyheath,
kent
To: The Council of the London Borough of Bexley.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This report deals with the greater part of the year and, as can be seen by each sectional
index, it is intended to be representative of the work of the Department. It does not purport
to be a detailed account of all that happened because this period was too active and time too
limited to permit adequate current reporting.
The preceeding Annual Report referred to the difficult circumstances affecting the new
department during the previous years. One of these circumstances was the shortage of senior
medical staff which persisted right up to the end of 1969. It is perhaps not surprising that
this report has something to say along these lines, seeing that these problems became so much
more acute in 1970. Despite these difficulties however the services of the Department to the
public were well maintained and the general community health remained satisfactory. Fortunately
no serious outbreak of infectious disease occurred, but if it had occurred, the necessary
adjustments, however unwelcome, could have been made. Single or family cases were fully
investigated including several cases where the possibility of smallpox had to be ruled out.
There are many within the Local Government at Bexley to whom thanks are due for helpful
support and assistance during this period. Amongst them are the Chairman and Members of
the Social Services (and Children's) Committee and the Chief Officers and Heads of Departments
and their staffs. The staff of the Health and Welfare Department, themselves under the scrutiny
of an organisation and methods enquiry, gave loyal and unstinting support, the manner of which,
by its obvious sincerity, augured well for the future efficiency of the Department. Thanks are
due to them and it is with much appreciation that they are recorded here.
Your Obedient Servant,
I.B. MILLAR
Acting Medical Officer of Health,
Acting Principal School Medical Officer
and Acting Director of Welfare Services
September 1970
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