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provision of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act and the Aliens Order. The free movement of
manpower within the Community is to be encouraged but it is not yet clear whether this will be
accompanied by a relaxation of Port Health Controls between constituent members. Similarly the
Immigration Act 1971 is likely to affect the work load of the Unit. Finally, the re-organisation of
the National Health Service scheduled for 1974 is bound to have repercussions upon the Unit.
The need for the service will remain, and re-organisation must provide a satisfactory framework
within which the Unit can operate effectively.
To return however to the present, an interesting development during the year was a closer
identification of the Borough's Health Services with the Health Control Unit at Heathrow. One
consequence of this was to introduce into the Unit a system of Management by Objectives,
which was being applied to all departments of the Council under the advice and guidance of
Messrs. Urwick Orr and Partners—a firm of consultants specialising in this field. Considerable
time and thought was given in preparation for this project. As yet it is too early to assess how
valuable the exercise has been but preliminary indications are that it is proving to be something
that was required.
In an endeavour to improve the Unit's efficiency, plans were drawn up towards the end of
the year to introduce a properly organised staff training programme. Hitherto, the training of
receptionists has been somewhat haphazard, and it was not until shift-leaders were appointed
in 1970 that this important subject received any real attention. With the appointment of the
Council's first Principal Health Education Officer, it became possible to arrange a course of inservice
training. The first such course is due to be held early in 1972. It is hoped that not only will
it prove of benefit to all who attend it but also that the interest which it arouses will in some way
counter the rate of staff turnover, which in recent years has been such a disturbing factor at
Heathrow.
STAFF
Medical Officers
Early in the year, Dr. E. W. Jones was transferred to other duties in the Health Services of
the Borough. In his place, Dr. M. J. James was appointed and he took up duty on 21st May.
At the end of the year, there was one vacancy on the establishment.
Receptionists
At the end of 1970, the authorised establishment was one Senior Clerk/Receptionist, six
Shift Leaders and fifty-eight receptionists—a total of sixty-five. In post, in addition to the Senior
Clerk/Receptionist, there were five Shift Leaders and fifty-three receptionists. The outstanding
vacancy for Shift Leader was filled in January.
As far back as 1969, in anticipation of the introduction of Boeing "747's" on African and
Asian routes, application had been made to increase the number of receptionists by 43%. In view
of the fact, however, that at the start the "747's" were confining their operations to the North
Atlantic route, and that, in the event, they were carrying only 50%-60% capacity, the increase in
the establishment became less urgent.
Before any agreement was reached upon the final increase, it was decided to carry out a
research study at Heathrow and the terms of reference were "to review the existing methods of
work of clerk/receptionists in the light of the introduction of Boeing 747 aircraft on routes subject
to health control, and to make recommendations concerning any changes in methods of work
or in staff establishment which may be necessary in the light of these changes, either now or
in the future".
This study was undertaken by the Operational Research Unit of the Department of Engineering
Production, University of Birmingham, and the recommendations included one to the effect that
the staff should be increased by 23% as from April 1st, 1972, and another effecting a change of
shift system.
Before the Research unit's report was completed, however, approval had been received
from the Department of Health and Social Security that a further twelve receptionists could be
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