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certain sections of the population not having at their disposal as efficient
a service as they had before. Unless some change is to be made, the
future of the domiciliary midwifery service can only be viewed with
some apprehension. At the time of writing, though, the Act has not
been in force for 12 months.
Once more it is possible to report that the general standard of the
healthiness for the district was high. While the year proved to be a
favourable one for the country as a whole, the vital statistics of this area
are in general even more favourable than the national rates.
One effect of the operation of the National Health Service Act was
the transference to other authorities of large numbers of the staff. At
the Isolation Hospital, and in the office, were members who had been
engaged by the predecessors of the Harrow Council before amalgamation
in 1934. Some of those engaged on the maternity and child welfare
services were amongst the earliest of the staff appointed by the Harrow
Council. Some of the midwives who have now transferred to the County
Council had been in private practice in the district many years before
they came over to the staff of the Harrow Council as the result of the
passing of the Midwives Act, 1936. Fortunately, although these members
of the staff have transferred from the Harrow Council to other authorities,
most of them are still available to continue their services for the district
that they have served so long.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
CARYL THOMAS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Council Offices,
" Cottesmore,"
Uxbridge Road,
Stanmore.
June 25th, 1949.