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17
To the Chairman and Members of the
ILFORD URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.
Gentlemen,
Before proceeding to review the Public Health work of
the town during the past year, I would first place before
the Council the position a Medical Officer of Health has to
fill in carrying out his duties as their appointed officer, with
the controlling influence, direction and approval of the
Local Government Board.
The requirements for a town of the size of Ilford are
that the Medical Officer must possess in addition to the
ordinary qualifications, a diploma in Public Health or
Sanitary Science. Which means that he must be prepared
to have a thorough knowledge of the law, as well as the
practice of public health, including the controlling knowledge
of all administration work in connection therewith.
So that, as laid down by the Local Government Board, at
all times" he shall be prepared to advise the Council on all
matters affecting the health of the district, and on all
sanitary points involved in the action of the Council." To
be able to do this it is obvious he must have authority
and the control of all the staff involved in the administration
of a Public Health Department. Also, it must be borne in
mind that in that Department are centred all the statistics
and information more immediately relating to the health
of the district, so that in advising as to future action it is
essential to have a knowledge of the past, and this
knowledge can only be collected and correlated by one
individual, and that the Medical Officer of Health.
It must also be remembered, too, that he is the only
officer with a thorough scientific training and education,