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4
there, not only from wrong thinking but put there by meddling
outsiders who, because they have had children, feel fully
qualified to give this often damaging advice. Unfortunately,
results, if any, that we get cannot be assessed scientifically
but they might encourage us to go on.
This is the last year I will be able to report upon the
Maternity and Child Welfare Services because, by the time
this report is in print, the services will have been handed over
to the Kent County Council as the new Local Health
Authority under the National Health Service Act, 1946. It
is indeed a sad blow to all of you who have been so long
responsible for the Services, and have taken endless pains in
their development and improvement. An authority that can
boast that 80 per cent. of the children born within its
boundaries attend the welfare clinics has something to be
proud of. We sincerely hope that the standard of efficiency
and the personal and intimate contact between the people and
the welfare centre staff will continue, although one always
has a fear that the community spirit that makes a service a
success will disappear in the chill atmosphere of a large central
administration.
I have the honour to be
the Council's Obedient Servant,
C. G. K. THOMPSON,
Medical Officer of Health.