View report page

7
Preface
Telephone: PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICES,
VALentine 3401 ILFORD.
July, 1962.
Mr. MAYOR, LADIES and GENTLEMEN,
I submit herewith the Annual Report of the Health Services for the
year 1961.
With an Infant Mortality Rate of 15.79 and adjusted Death Rate of
11.5, and other indices remaining much as before, it is my pleasure to
report that the health of the borough is being well maintained.
Mr. Hocking, Chief Clerk of the Department, retired in November
1961, after practically 30 years in that post. His departure is much
regretted. He was the last remaining official link on the administrative
side between the borough and county staffs. I asked Mr. Hocking to write
a review of the changes he had seen in these 30 years; this review follows
and is the reason why my preface this year must be brief.
I must, however, mention one novelty in local government introduced
this year, the Ten Year Development Plan. The pleasure in looking ten
years ahead is somewhat dimmed by the knowledge that in three years, with
the Re-organisation of Local Government in Greater London, the basis of
the plan will be completely altered.
DOCTOR OR DISTRICT
A problem of immediate importance in the work of the health visitor
(HV) is whether she is to be attached to a geographical district (as at
present) or to the practice of a doctor (as some doctors would insist,
and the Ministry of Health recommend). The former practice many would
consider "out of date" and the latter "modern and progressive'. 'Even
at the risk of being considered backward, I feel it essential that the
logistics of the position must be fairly presented.