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diagnosis and treatment of illness", came into force on the 5th
July, 1948. On this date, Maternity and Child Welfare functions,
ambulance services, etc., passed to the control of the Surrey County
Council, whilst the Infectious Diseases Hospital became the responsibility
of the Regional Hospital Board.
The National Assistance Act, 1948 also came into operation
on the 5th July, 1948 with the exception of certain sections relating
to the registration of homes, etc. This Act is described as the final
step in the break-up of the existing poor law, and provides instead
for the assistance of persons in need by the National Assistance
Board and by local authorities. It makes further provision for the
welfare of disabled, sick, aged and other persons, and, among other
things, makes provision for the burial or cremation of deceased
persons.
A third Act which came into force on the 5th July, 1948 is the
Children Act, 1948. This Act makes further provision for the care
or welfare, up to the age of eighteen and, in certain cases, for further
periods, of boys and girls when they are without parents or have been
lost or abandoned by, or are living away from, their parents, or
when their parents are unfit or unable to care for them, and in
certain other circumstances.
As a result of the transfer of functions arising out of the foregoing
legislation, a considerable part of the Annual Report for the
year 1948 deals only with the period 1st January to 4th July, the
period during which the Wimbledon Borough Council was the
responsible authority.
With the transfer of duties in connection with Maternity and
Child Welfare, etc., to the Surrey County Council, a number of
members of the Public Health Department staff became "transferred
officers" as from the 5th July. These officers include Dr. P. J.
Doody, the Deputy Medical Officer of Health, the whole of the
Health Visiting staff, and certain members of the clerical staff.
In presenting this Report I should like to place on record my
thanks for the co-operation which I have received from all the
members of the staff during this difficult period of transition.
I should again like to express my deep appreciation also to the
Chairmen and Members of the Health and Maternity and Child
Welfare Committees for their consideration and courtesy during the
year.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
HAROLD ELLIS,
Medical Officer of Health.
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