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In Department of Health and Social Security Circular 13/73 emphasis was placed on the
recommendations for the number of community nurses per 1,000 population. In view
of the shortage of home nurses and health visitors it was not possible to implement the
recommendations in the circular in one year and a phased programme over a period of
three years was agreed by the Council. It is sincerely hoped that the Area Health
Authority will carry out this programme after 1st April, 1974.
Environmental Health
There is a full report by the Chief Public Health Inspector on the Environmental Health
Services in which it will be noted that the Public Health Inspectors now work in functional
teams instead of geographic areas. More and more emphasis is being placed on housing
improvements and on prevention of pollution.
The work of the Division has continued to increase. Compared with the majority of other
London Boroughs there have been very few vacancies in the department, a tribute to the
leadership of the Chief Public Health Inspector.
Housing
I refer to a report by the Housing Manager.
There has been an increasing delay in the rehousing of Category I Medical cases (this category
recommends immediate rehousing), and it will be noted that the number of cases requiring
urgent rehousing as at 31st December, 1972 was 268 compared with 159 at the end of 1971,
a state of affairs which must be resolved as quickly as possible.
National Health Service Reorganisation
Towards the end of 1972 the Secretary of State for Health and Social Security informed
London Borough Councils of the grouping of the boroughs to form Area Health Authorities,
Sutton to be in the same group as Merton and Wandsworth. Although the Council made
every effort to be grouped only with Merton, I regret that the appeals to the Department
of Health and Social Security were unsuccessful.
An Area Health Authority Joint Liaison Committee was set up at the end of 1972 and
included two representatives from the six Hospital Management Committees in the area
the three London Boroughs and both the Inner London and the South West London and
and Surrey Executive Councils. Sutton representatives were the Principal Chief Officer
and myself. The main function of the Joint Liaison Committee was to prepare a
comprehensive profile of all the Health Services for the shadow Area Health Authority.
The Community Health Services continued to improve during 1972 and further
improvements will take place during 1973. I am confident that this borough will transfer
to the Area Health Authority a first class service, my only regret being the substantial delays
in the programme for Health Centres.
I have pleasure in recording my grateful thanks to all the staff of the Health
Department for their valuable and devoted service to the borough, and particularly to the
Principal Medical Officer, Senior Medical Officer, Chief Dental Officer, Chief Nursing
Officer, Chief Public Health Inspector and Chief Administrative Officer for their
contribution to this report.
W.H. KINSTRIE, MB., ChB., MFCM.,DPH
Medical Officer of Health and
Principal School Medical Officer
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