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satisfactory homes for the new families is and will continue
to be, a most urgent problem.,
THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT. 1946.
July 5th. 1948 saw the beginning of the operation of
most of the provisions of this Act, which profoundly alters
the administration of much of the work formerly undertaken
by your Council.
HOSPITALS.
General - The Kingston County Hospital and the Victoria
Hospital passed into the control of the newly formed Regional
Hospital Board, and both Hospitals are grouped in the Kingston
Group Hospital Management Committee. Admissions to these
hospitals continues in similar manner as before the change.
Infectious Disease - The Wimbledon Isolation Hospital
which had been receiving infectious cases from Kingston, also
passed under the control of the Regional Hospital Board.
After a period of transition it was decided to send Kingston
cases of infectious disease to Tolworth Isolation Hospital in
the first instance. This change "brought to an end a long and
valuable period of service to Kingston by the Wimbledon
Corporation, and their Medical Officer of Health.
Since 1920 by mutual agreement, Kingston cases had been
accommodated in the first instance at the Wimbledon Hospital,
where they received all necessary nursing and medical or
specialist care.
The professional and administrative collaboration between
your Medical. Officer of Health and the M.O.H. of Wimbledon and
his staff, has been at all times very close and successful.
I wish to record my personal appreciation of this important
service, rendered to the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames,
by Dr. Ellis, the Medical Officer of Healtti of Wimbledon, Dr.
Doody, his deputy, and the Matron and Staff of the Isolation
Hospital.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The responsibilities for the general services given under the
title Maternity and Child Welfare also passed from the Council to
the Surrey County Council on July 5th. Later in the report I
make observations In more detail upon the effect of the transfer
and refer to some of the work done. Here, I take opportunity
most gratefully to record my personal appreciation of the encouragement
and support I have always received from your Council,
and the Chairmen and Members of its Public Health Comn ittee and
Sub-Committees, in carrying out my duties as Maternity and Child
Welfare Officer. The keen interest displayed and the policy
followed by your Council has contributed largely to the Health
and Welfare of Mothers and young children in the Borough, in
which work I am happy to have taken part.
Much important Public Health work remains with the
Council as the Local Sanitary Authority, in the Environmental
Field, Food, Prevention of Disease and Health Education, Housing,
Special Problems of Aged Persons, and others.