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Unfortunately, we still have to record difficulties in recruitment of home nurses
(page 66), and the first indications are becoming apparent of impending shortages of
student health visitors (page 62 ). The latter is a particularly disturbing prospect
since an adequate health visiting service is the very foundation of the care of mothers
and young children, and is essential for the success of many other sections of the
personal health services.
The other development of interest comes within the after-care services but also
depends upon the health visitor for its operation. I refer to the liaison with the
geriatric unit at Langthorne Hospital designed to preserve continuity of care between
hospital and community health services for old people. This also seems a promising
venture which is described on page 98.
The school health service, which now administers the dental and the physiotherapy
services on behalf of both Education and Health Committees, has to tell rather of a steady
consolidation and improvement of schemes already established than of any fresh developments,
but it can nevertheless look back with pride on a year of steady achievement.
The environmental health services also record a year of solid progress, with
increasing attention to slum clearance proposals. In this section, the Chief Public Health
Inspector (as he is now called) gives an interesting account of the Government's Clean Air
Bill which is undoubtedly the major sanitary advance of recent years. If full advantage is
taken of its provisions now that they are through Parliament, it may well haye as favourable
an influence on the public health as the great sanitary measures of the past century which
gave us safe water, innocuous sewerage and wholesome food. We now take all these for granted:
when we have come to look upon clean air as the rule and smoke as a breach of the sanitary
code we shall indeed have achieved something of a revolution, not only in the field of health
but also in the appearance of our towns. It Is to be hoped that the technical difficulties
involved will not unduly delay progress.
Finally, the Health Committee asked for the Inclusion in this year's report of special
articles on cancer and on liaison within the health services. Dr.C.H.Phillips, the Deputy
Medical Officer of Health, kindly offered to write on both subjects, and the contributions
will be found under his name on pages 8l and 97.
The work recorded in this report could not have been achieved without the fullest support
from the Committees and the unsparing efforts of the staff. To all I would express my grateful
thanks for their part in what we have accomplished.
I am,
Mr.Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. ROY DENNISON.
Medical Officer of Health and
Principal School Medical Officer.
Health Department,
225, Romford Road,
Forest Gate, E.7.
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