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7
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER
OF HEALTH
Health, Welfare & Children's Department,
Hanover House,
Lyon Road,
Harrow, Middlesex.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
London Borough of Harrow.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the Health and
Sanitary Conditions of the district for the year 1965.
The first three months of 1965 were mainly taken up with the final
stages of the preparatory work involved in the "handover" operation
when the Borough under the terms of the London Government Act of
1963 attained London Borough status on the 1st April 1965.
The Council had previously decided to set up a combined Health,
Welfare and Children's Department and appreciating the increase in
staff required to carry out the new functions of the London Borough, made
arrangements in 1964 for extra office accommodation. As a result, the
Public Health Department, together with the Middlesex County Council's
Area Services of Personal Health, Welfare and Children's, moved to new
quarters in Hanover House in February 1965.
This move definitely eased the formation of the new combined Department
in April. The many useful "ante-natal" meetings and conferences
held with the various County Council officers to work out and so facilitate
the handover of functions—some even before the appointed day—were of
tremendous value, so much so that I think it can be said that the birth of
the new London Borough of Harrow, although rather long drawn out,
was relatively painless!
Since 1948, Middlesex County Council had built up many services
for the benefit of many differing age-groups within the community—these
facilities were listed under Personal Health, Welfare and Children's Services.
It was essential that these facilities continued without interruption
and this, therefore, was the target aimed at by all concerned in the transfer
operation. The fact that it was achieved says much for the efforts expended
and thanks are due to all members of staff for their loyal and efficient
services, without which the task would have been much more difficult.