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3
Borough of Mitcham
HEALTH REPORT FOR 1948
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors.
Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in submitting my annual report for
the year 1948.
On July 5 the Maternity and Child Welfare and Ambulance
Services were transferred to the Surrey County Council, and the
Woodlands Maternity Home and the Wandle Valley Joint
Isolation Hospital were transferred to the Regional Hospital
Board. This is, therefore, the last report of your Medical Officer
of Health to deal with these services.
In order that comparisons may be made with previous and
subsequent years the figures for the whole of the year have been
placed in parentheses. The infant mortality figure for the year
was only lower in 1946, and the health of the Borough has
remained good.
The transfer of the services and staff to the County Council
was accomplished smoothly, and there has been little or no
change as yet in the general clinical work. Much of the credit
for the success of this big administrative change is due to
Dr. K. A. Soutar, the County Medical Officer, who, by his tact,
tolerance and patience overcame all difficulties.