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11
To the Chairman and Members of the
Health and Welfare Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the first annual report on the
services administered by the Health and Welfare Department of
the London Borough of Bromley. The report is set out in
accordance with the requirements of Ministry of Health Circular
1/66. In addition, the senior officers of each section reveal in their
contributions how the problems of setting up new services and of
integrating old services throughout the large area of this new
authority have been achieved. This success stems first from the
services inherited from the former authorities of Kent County
Council, the Boroughs of Bromley and Beckenham, and the Urban
Districts of Orpington, Penge, and Chislehurst and Sidcup, and
second from the team spirit and blending of experience of members
and officers.
In this prefatory letter, I should like to comment on reports
in the various sections which are particularly noteworthy.
National Health Service Act, 1946
Health Visitors
The Health Visitor has always needed to be up to date with
advances in current knowledge but never more so than at the
present time. Valuable links with former colleagues in Kent were
maintained. Residential courses have been attended and monthly
staff meetings have been addressed by special speakers. Several
health visitors have attended short courses during their leisure
time and all are equipping themselves for the wider functions of
their work. These functions now include health education, cooperation
with other social workers, advice to mothers, organising
play groups for under fives, and above all, closer links with general
practitioners, as shown in the report.
Midwifery
Owing to shortage of staff, it has not been possible to consider
attachment of midwives to group practices. Recruitment is
hampered by difficulty in finding suitable single or married accommodation
for midwives. The high cost of building in the greater
part of the borough is particularly relevant.
It is difficult to assess the ultimate ratio of hospital confinements
to domiciliary after-care. The report indicates the increase
in 48 hour discharges from hospital. Over half the domiciliary
midwife's work is directed to post-hospital care.
New arrangements for holiday, night and weekend emergency
calls were made as former arrangements through the Ambulance
telephone network had to be discontinued, and after initial