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PREFACE
Tel.: HORNCHURCH 52555
Health & Welfare Department,
Billet Lane,
Hornchurch,
Essex.
August, 1966.
To : The Mayor, Alderman and Councillors
of the London Borough of Havering.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my privilege to present the first Annual Report of the
new London Borough of Havering, which came into existence
under the provisions of the London Government Act of April
1st, 1965.
Combined Department
The new Council decided from the outset to amalgamate
Health and Welfare in the interests of co-ordination and
efficiency of services, and in furtherance of this aim provided
the department with accommodation at Billet Lane
in close proximity to Housing and Children's Departments.
As I had always felt Medical Officers of Health, given the
opportunity, had the best prospect of those in social service
disciplines of effectively co-ordinating Health and
Welfare, this responsibility was gladly undertaken. It
was therefore very gratifying to find throughout the year
how readily the provisions of the various Health and
Welfare legislation fitted into existing patterns of administration,
and integration proceeded smoothly from the
beginning.
Reappraisal of Social Priorities
The Department was concerned during the year in developing
and extending the services which were transferred
to the new Borough, and statistics reflect the increased
demand for services which was experienced by various
sections during the year. This trend was anticipated, and
no doubt will continue as the department becomes established
and builds for itself a good reputation.
Increasing demand will create problems, because there
are limits to resources both in money and manpower, and
it may become increasingly necessary in future to make
critical evaluation of existing services and practices, and
in some respects becoming more selective by concentrating
on categories at risk and vulnerable groups.
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