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9
The three metropolitan boroughs had already made considerable progress in
respect of smoke control before 1st April, 1965. At the end of the year only
three areas - one from the old Borough of Shoreditch and two from the Borough
of Hackney - remained to be dealt with before the whole of the new London
Borough becomes smoke free.
The Report contains, for information only, a section on the School Health
Service as it appertains to Hackney schools. As you will know, the responsible
Authority for the School Health Service, is the Inner London Education Authority.
For the purpose of the School Health service the Medical Officer of Health
acts in a different capacity as one of the Principal School Medical Officers
to the Inner London Education Authority. It is thought, however, that the
members would be interested in the School Health Service in Hackney.
The new Health Department has survived a year of difficulties following
re-organisation, but it already has plans for the future. As required by the
Ministry, a draft 10-year plan was submitted to the Ministry at the end of the
year. Undoubtedly, this plan will need revision in the light of experience.
Plans, however, are already afoot to increase the mental health services; to
increase services for family planning; and to make a start on some of the new
fields of preventive medicine, such as cervical cytology, and it is hoped that
these will have commenced in 1966.
The year has been a difficult one for everybody concerned, and I would,
therefore, wish to give particular thanks to all my colleagues in other departments:
it would be invidious to pick out any special department as we have
received help and and advice from them all. I would also like to thank the
general practitioners in the Borough, who have been helpful and patient with us
in our difficulties, and the staffs of the various hospitals and voluntary
organisations for their help. I would also wish to express, on behalf of the
Department, thanks to the Chairman and members of the Health Committee for their
help, guidance and forbearance for what must have been a busy and difficult
year for them as well as the staff. Finally, I personally, would express my
gratitude to the whole of the staff of the Department for the work that they
have carried out in the past year. Although this Report is signed in my name,
it, of course, represents the work of each and every one of the staff of the
Health Department.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
ROWLAND GWYN DAVIES
Medical Officer of Health