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The incidence of Infectious Diseases is changing„ As old
enemies of the Public Health are conquered, new threats appear,
and in turn will be overcome.
I record my thanks to my senior colleagues and all members
of ray staff for their hard work and co-operation throughout the
year.
I have the Honour to be,
Mr, Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J.W. STARKEY
Medical Officer of Health.
Letter from the Chairman of the Public Health Committee.
Alderman Mrs. E.H.R. Oldfield, M.B. Ch. B. D. P. H., J. P.
(Ex Mayor)
To the Mayor, Alderman and Councillors of the
Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies en d Gentlemen,
I am particularly pleased to add a few words to this Annual
Report of 1948, as, during that year, I had the honour to be
Mayor, as well as Chairman of the Public Health Committee, and
had a unique opportunity of seeing every section of the community
at work and play.
This is the last time "that this report will include Maternity
and Child Welfare Services, since, with the Ambulance Service,
they passed to the County Council on 5th0 July.
The Corporation handed over with regret, feeling that local
people best know the needs of their own area, and that we became
but one of many units in the County. We are gLad that Dr.
Starkey has become Divisional Medical Officer and will continue
to make Kingston's interests his ooncern, and to propose
improvements as they become necessary„ We are proud of the
services we handed over, but well know that they must not be
allowed to remain static.
The important and ever-changing branch of the work dealing
with Infectio\3S Diseases has been greatly altered by the introduction,
in which I can claim same small share, of Diphtheria
Immunisationo I would like to add, to that of the Medical
Officer of Health, my tribute for the services rendered to our
town, by the Wimbledon Isolation Hospital, their Medical Officer
of Health, and his assistants, particularly because in the years
before Dr. Starkey came to Kingston, we had occasion to use that
Hospital a great deal more than of late„
It would take too long and use too much space to draw
attention t o all the important factors in the report, so I
will conclude by saying that the Committee, and, indeed, the
whole Council, recognise the great work in the interests of
the Royal Borough done by the Medical Officer, the Chief
Sanitary Inspector and the whole Public Health Department,
not forgetting the voluntary committee and helpers at the
Clinics.
(Sgd.) ELSPETH H.R. OLDFIELD.
Chairman.