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Difficulties were encountered during the year in recruiting a full
complement of Public Health Inspectors and the Department continued
to find it increasingly difficult to recruit qualified Social Workers.
This emphasises the comments made in my previous Reports
that the best means of ensuring a cadre of qualified Social Workers
in the future will be to endorse a continuing policy of recruitment
of trainees who may be sponsored by the Authority on approved
initial training courses, or approved post-graduate courses.
Co-operation with General Practitioners, the Hospital Service,
voluntary and statutory bodies and with other Departments of the
Authority was good throughout the year.
During the year there were published the Green Paper on ' The
Administrative Structure of the Medical and Related Services in
England and Wales' issued by the then Minister of Health, and the
' Report of the Seebohm Committee on Local Authority and Allied
Personal Social Services'. These reports, the implementation of
which would have a profound effect on the Health Department Services,
are being studied.
My thanks are due to all members of the Health Department staff
for the loyal and efficient manner in which they performed their
duties during the year. My special thanks are due to Mr. Cockell, the
Chief Public Health Inspector, and to 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 help and ready co-operation at all times.
I should like to express my appreciation to the Chairman and
Members of the Health Committee for the support they have given
me and for the consideration and courtesy which they have shown to
me, during the year.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
P. J. DOODY,
Medical Officer of Health.
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