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the first time for care and after-care work in the Mental Health Services• Their
respective reports of their first few months' work will be found on pages 40-42 and
46-49. At this point I would like to interpolate a few words of appreciation of
the invaluable services which were given by Mrs.E.Kelly who was temporarily.seconded
from the National Association of Mental Health while the department was without a
Psychiatric Social Worker. From May, 1949,to September, 1950, she carried the burden
both of the Child Guidance Clinic, which was also finding difficulty in filling a similar
vacancy in its own establishment, and of the general Mental Health Service. . We have good
reason to be grateful for the able and devoted work which Mrs.Kelly did in laying the
foundations of a new service on which she knew others would gain the satisfaction of building
after she had gone.
Another new appointment was that of Audiometrician, whose function is to undertake
the systematic testing of children's hearing while they are in their classes at
school, and also to help with more specialised hearing tests at the Ear, Nose and Throat
Clinic. An account of her work will be found on page 57.
This year also saw the opening of the Occupation Centre. Starting in a limited
way it has gradually worked up to its capacity of. 25 children, overcoming difficulties
of organisation and material on the way. On the showing of these first few months it
would seem to have a very promising future.
A development of a different kind very quickly proved its worth. Advantage was
taken of the Health Visitor's unique position as health adviser to the families in her
area to bridge the gap between the hospital and domiciliary services in the way which is
described on page 37. It is becoming increasingly recognised that one of the urgent
needs of the hour is to bring the three main branches of the Health Services closer
together, and this particular step towards that end has met with the universal approval
of all concerned.
Finally, I would draw attention to the account on page 42 of the highly successful
course arranged for West Ham by the Central Council for Health Education. Health
education in its best and broadest sense is likely to become one of the most valuable
activities of Health Departments in their endeavours to raise still further the standards
of public health, and this course provided a most stimulating introduction of the staff
of the department to the difficult technique of conveying information in an acceptable
manner.
It will thus be seen that 1950 was a year of progress. The preparations previously
made, at the inception of the National Health Service Act and since, were beginning to
bear rich fruit, and the widening compass of the services which can now be given to the
citizens of the borough is a cause of deep satisfaction, not least to the staff of the
Health and School Health Departments. None of this would have been possible without the
sustained support of the Committees concerned, and the devoted efforts of my colleagues
of all grades in all sections of the service® To them all I express my warmest thanks.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. ROY DENNISON,
Medical Officer of Health and
School Medical Officer.
Municipal Health Offices,
223/5, Romford Road,
West Ham, E.7.
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