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Borough of malden and Coombe
ANNUAL REPORT
of
THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
1948
Public Health Department,
Municipal Offices,
New Malden.
July, 1949.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Malden and Coombe.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for 1948
which has been prepared in accordance with Ministry of Health
circular 3/49.
Vital statistics, which are dealt with in the text, are very
satisfactory and show an advantage in almost every department
over the average for the country as a whole.
The year has seen a number of changes in public health
administration due to the coming into operation of the National
Health Service and the National Assistance Acts, some new duties
being added and others transferred to the County Council. One
duty that has been added relates to applications which may now
be made to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction for the compulsory
removal to hospital of any person who is suffering from grave
chronic disease and is unable to devote to him or herself and
does not receive from other persons proper care and attention.
Naturally the operation of this power must necessarily be restricted
to cases where the interference with the liberty of the
subject is of vital necessity and although several instances occurred
where application to the Court was at first indicated it eventually
only became necessary to make this in one case.
This has been my first year as your Medical Officer of
Health and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you
for your friendly welcome. My thanks are due also to the chief
officers and their staffs for the co-operation and assistance they
have so readily given me.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Your obedient servant,
J. B. MORWOOD,
Medical Officer of Health.