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STAFF
The following whole-time equivalent personnel comprise the establishment of
the Health Department.
Administrative, Professional and Technical Officers 400
Manual workers 297
697
Dr. M. L. Graeme joined the staff as Principal Medical Officer for the School
Health Service on the 29th April, 1968, in succession to Dr. Margaret R. Gilmour
who had retired on the 31st December, 1967. Dr. Theresa M. Chan Kin joined
the staff as an assistant medical officer also in April in succession to Dr. Sylvia Darke
who had resigned to take up a post with the Ministry of Health. Dr. Sylvia Darke
had for some years rendered valuable service to the community, and mothers attending
her clinics expressed regret that she was leaving our service. Dr. Gweneth
Turnbull retired on the 31st March and her very valuable services over nearly
eighteen years were greatly appreciated. Her quiet efficiency and conscientious
performance of her work will be greatly missed. We wish her improved health
in her retirement.
We were sorry to lose the services of Dr. D. Latham Brown, who retired at
the end of the year after seventeen years' service at Southbury Ear, Nose and Throat
Clinic. No one could have been more suitable for this type of work, not only
professionally, but also by virtue of his sympathetic approach to children and cooperative
attitude in the clinic. His appointment on the staff of local hospitals
ensured the closest liaison between the local authority and hospital services in this
branch of the work, an ideal arrangement from all points of view.
The Dental Health Service had by the commencement of the year suffered
several resignations and during 1968 we were unable to recruit any new members to
this important branch of our service. At the end of the year there were twelve
dental officers employed for an equivalent whole-time figure of 8.1 dentists and
orthodontists. One long-serving surgery assistant retired owing to ill-health in
September, but recruitment of this category of staff improved slightly at the end
of the year when 7.6 dental surgery assistants were employed.
In April, Mr. J. H. Cotton, C.P.S.W., M.A., was appointed senior mental
welfare officer to replace Miss A. Harman, who had been promoted to the post of
deputy last year.
Three of our sponsored student public health inspectors qualified after completing
their training courses and were appointed to the staff. The vacant post
of specialist public health inspector remained unfilled throughout the year.
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