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RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER BRANCHES OF THE HEALTH
AND SOCIAL SERVICES
It is generally accepted that good co-operation depends on good communication. This
must, of course, apply particularly in relation to an entirely new organisation such as Camden. It
was with this in mind that the Council decided to invite nominations for co-option on the Health
Committee of a general practitioner and a dental surgeon respectively from the Inner London
Local Medical and Dental Committees. Similar invitations were issued for nomination of consultants
from the Institute of Child Health, the Royal Free Hospital and University College Hospital
Medical Schools, University of London and from the North London Hospital Group. Finally the
Inner London Executive Council nominated a member for co-option. The value of this far-sighted
action of the Council is beyond doubt.
THE HEALTH OF CAMDEN
We decided that immediately upon becoming operational the department would issue at
regular intervals - first weekly, and later fortnightly - a bulletin in which the services provided
by the Health Department would be described and any new developments announced. The first
issue of The Health of Camden appeared on 9 April 1965. This bulletin, very modestly produced,
was sent to all general practitioners in the Borough and to as many medico-social agencies as
appeared to have an interest in the work of the department. Hospitals were asked to state their
requirements for copies and these were fully met in each case. Although it became clear in the
course of 1965 that the bulletin did not in the first year reach as many colleagues as one imagined
might be interested (e.g. all ward sisters in the local hospitals) there was a steady increase in
demand and by the end of the year 650 copies of each issue were distributed; circulation rose
later to over 1,000 copies per issue. Apart from announcements dealing with day-to-day organisational
matters the following subjects were dealt with in the Health of Camden during 1965.
Main Items
The Emergency Bed Service
Health Centres
The Volunteer Emergency Service
The Camden Family Service
Camden Council of Social Service
Home Nursing and Domiciliary Midwifery
The Education of Delicate Children
Day Nurseries and Child Minder Service
The School Health Service
Rehousing on Medical Grounds
Smallpox
The Home Help Service
District Nursing Service
Child Welfare Centres
*The Early Detection of the Handicapped Child
*Loan Equipment
*Maternity Bed Bookings
*Health Education in Camden
*Specimens for Bacteriological Examination
*Work of the Public Health Inspectorate
*Task Force
*Enuresis
*Authentication of International Certificates of Vaccination
*Community Mental Health Services
*Half page articles
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