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9
became lively discussions on various health topics, including drug
taking. As regards the latter, adolescents are a new challenge in
the care of the "vulnerable". Widespread drug taking by young
people is a frightening problem which must be tackled vigorously.
Every endeavour has been made, and will continue to be
made, to develop the school health service, which, together with
the welfare and mental health services, will become part of the
great family service which is visualised in the combined health and
welfare department, thus enabling social medicine in the fullest
meaning of the term to be practised.
The dental service for expectant mothers and children of
all ages functioned satisfactorily under the direction of
Mr.G.Power, Chief Dental Officer. I am indebted to Dr.V.Wills,
Senior Medical Officer;, who undertook much of the day to day
administration of the school health service.
I should like to express my thanks to all the field staff
and office staff of my department for their help during a most
difficult first year.
In particular I must record my appreciation of the
assistance I received from Mr.H.A.Sears, my Chief Administrative
Officer, to whom nothing was too much trouble, and who worked long
hours with me, particularly in the last six months of the year whilst
I was Acting Medical Officer of Health with no Deputy,,
I am indebted to many hospital consultants and medical
social workers, the Public Health and Kingston Hospital Laboratory
staffs, the general practitioners, and to all other officers of
statutory and voluntary organisations too numerous to mention, who
have assisted the department and contributed to the health and
welfare of the citizens of this borough.
A feature of the year was the close co-operation that was
established with other departments of the authority, particularly
Education, Children's, and Housingo I am grateful to Chief Officers,
Heads of Departments, and their staffs.
I wish to record my appreciation of the assistance given by
the late Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee, and to express
my thanks to the Vice-Chairman, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the
Establishment Committee, and to the members of both Committees for
the support given to the department and myself during the year,
I should like to thank also the Education (Schools) SubCommittee
and the Education Committee for the way in which my reports
on the school health service were received.
JOHN CoBIRCHALL.
Medical Officer of Health and
Principal School Medical Officer.