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7
advice to all as well as free supplies to medical and social cases. This
applies to residents of the borough wherever they attend a Family Planning
Association clinic. The Corporation also agreed to pay similar
reimbursement to the Brook Advisory Clinics, and to introduce a limited
vasectomy service. The domiciliary family planning service which is
provided directly by Corporation staff, was also extended. More clinics
were opened by the Family Planning Association, and additional sessions
provided to cope with increasing demands.
Health Service Reorganisation
The anticipated decision not to co-ordinate health services under
local authority control was received with regret, and every effort made
to ensure that the new Area Health Board for Croydon would be based
on the area of the London Borough. Since 1948 the Croydon Health
Department has accepted the primary duty to strive for integrated local
services to minimise the disadvantages of separate administrative
systems. With continued goodwill and effort the success of these efforts
should not be lost under the new system to be imposed. If this is the
case an improved service to the public should be forthcoming.
Against this background of doubts and uncertainty my thanks are
due to the staff of the Department who have not been distracted from
their duties, and to the Chairman and Members of the Committee,
unchanged in their wish to do all that is possible to improve services
available to the residents of the borough.
I am
Yours faithfully,
S.L. WRIGHT,
Medical Officer of Health
and Principal School Medical Officer.