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local authority and community activities with a considerable medical or preventive
health content (many of which he pioneered), but also for activities which
fell to him as a convenient administrative arrangement. Consequently, many
of his former responsibilities - some of which required specialised medical
knowledge or specialist skill or knowledge in other disciplines - have been
gradually taken over by specialists and by other local government departments or
other bodies, including medical consultants in the Hospital Service; bacteriologists
and pathologists in the public Health Laboratory Service; Engineers and Chemists
in Local Authorities, Water Authorities and Sewage Authorities; and Local
Authority Social Services Departments. Other activities have been taken over
by the Local Education Department, the Local Authority Housing Department,
the Local Authority Parks Department and also by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food.
On the other hand, many new responsibilities - due to scientific discoveries
and developments - have come within the ambit of the Medical Officer of Health.
At midnight on 31st March, 1974, the post of Medical Officer of Health will
be abolished. However, under the National Health Service Reorganisation Act
1973, and Regulations, it is intended that arrangements be made between Local
Authorities, Local Education Authorities and the newly established Area Health
Authorities for the provision, through medical officers and other officers of
the Area Health Authority, of such medical and other advice and support as a
Local Authority might need, especially in the field of environmental health,
the school health service, social services, etc. Therefore, on the passing of the
Medical Officer of Health there will be available to Local Authorities and
Local Education Authorities the services of new types of medical officers,
i.e. the Community Physicians of the new National Health Service.
As I have already stated, it has not been possible to unfold the full story
or to give statistical records of the various Medical Officers of Health of the
three constituent Boroughs of the London Borough of Enfield. As far as
the original Enfield constituent is concerned, however, there have been
since the first Medical Officer of Health was appointed in 1872 - eight Medical
Officers of Health of whom the present - and last - holder of the post will have
been the longest serving Medical Officer of Health, having held the office in
Enfield for nearly thirty years, in addition to over four years as deputy.
January, 1974
WILLIAM D. HYDE
Medical Officer of Health
Principal School Medical Officer