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10
Committee. The gains in expertise, efficiency and economy are obvious, the
difficulties also apparent, for even now the Health Department has a joint
social work department with the local psychiatric hospital, and we are engaged
in discussions for a similar arrangement with the general hospitals and their
medical social workers, although this would additionally involve another borough.
Other Activities
In Redbridge social workers, in a wide sense, to include Health Visitors
and others, are joined in the Redbridge Association of Professional Social Workers,
which is active and meets regularly. It is pleasing to note, in view of the atti-.
tude of their national association, that the local probation officers are prominent
members. This association has taken under its wing the Social Workers
Luncheon, where voluntary workers, others with a marginal interest in social
work, such as family doctors, clergymen and teachers, meet the professionals
over sandwiches in a clinic to hear lectures and discnss. This luncheon club,
begun by a Vicar, nourished by the Council of Social Service and the Health
Department, has I hope come to rest in its proper sphere.
This therefore, is a summary, brief and somewhat incomplete, of the efforts
at co-ordination of the Social Services in the London Borough of Redbridge.
Should another arrangement be imposed upon us, it is to be hoped it will be as
effective.
Once again I would like to thank all those who have made my task a pleasure
and so much easier over the last year. The large band of Voluntary Workers in
the borough, the members of the Council, my fellow Chief Officers and Colleagues
in the Health and Welfare Department.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient servant,
I. GORDON,
Medical Officer of Health.