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without such an Officer, health education tends to become sectionalised
rather than being carried out as a cohesive and carefully formulated
plan, placing due emphasis at appropriate times, on various
aspects of positive health. As a means of maintaining a close liaison
with other branches of the National Health Service and with other
London Boroughs, during the year it is necessary for me to
attend meetings of St. Helier Group Medical Committee, The Association
of London Borough Medical Officers of Health, London
Liaison Committee, South West London and Surrey Executive Council,
South West London and Surrey Local Medical Committee,
Regional Liaison Committee of the South West Metropolitan Regional
Hospital Board, and St. Helier Group Maternity Liaison Committee
(of which I am the Chairman).
A period of reorganisation of such great significance as the
London one is bound, in the early stages of its implementation, to
present difficult problems of administration, not the least of which
has been the change, in the sphere of the Personal Health Services
from a system of Divisional Administration formulated by the Surrey
County Council, and carried out by the three former County Districts
under the guidance of County Council Central Administration, to a
system of administration as a directly responsible Local Health Authority.
The first year of the new set-up, therefore, has been to some
extent a period of transition in which the staff of the Health Department,
particularly those in senior administrative posts, have slowly
conditioned themselves to the greater responsibilities associated with
the assumption by the Authority of direct responsibility, as opposed
to responsibility under the umbrella of a County Central Administration.
This was inevitable since, with few exceptions, the Health
Department staff comprised personnel who had worked in the previous
Divisional system.
On the Environmental Health side, of course, this was a merging
of the Services of three Authorities into one, the change from Divisional
to Central Administration not being an attendant problem,
although the merging of the policies of three former Districts, particularly
under the Clean Air Act, into one procedure for the new
Borough presented very real problems.
In conclusion, I should like to take this opportunity of expressing
my appreciation to the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee
for the consideration and courtesy they have shown to me
during the year.
My thanks are also due to all members of the Health Department
for the loyal and efficient manner in which they carried out their duties
during a difficult period of reorganisation. I would especially like to
thank Mr. Cockell, the Chief Public Health Inspector and Mr.
Atkinson, my Chief Administrative Officer, for their contributions in
connection with the preparation of this Report.
I am also indebted to my colleagues in other Departments for
their ready help and co-operation on all occasions.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
P. J. DOODY,
Medical Officer of Health.
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