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8
work in medical counselling and nursing responsibilities to the various
Social Service establishments, in particular, the day nurseries. To
some extent the Department's duties in this respect have increased
because of the decentralization of the Social Services Department and
also in respect of attachment schemes to certain general practitioners.
To a limited extent the Health Department will have to follow this
trend and prepare for a lesser degree at the moment, possibly to a
greater extent later, to fit in with the Social Services Department.
This is being done by devolving responsibility more by areas, to its
senior medical and nursing staff, than it has done in the past, and
also by making greater use of the maternal and child health centres
as providing focal points for health services.
Co-operation with local hospitals continues at all levels. The
Medical Officer of Health serves on various hospitals and hospital
liaison committees, and the Co-ordinating Nursing Officer is also on
similar committees. Should re-organisation of the Health Services
become more of a concrete fact, further and more intimate liaison will
become necessary.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the
officers of the Department who transferred to the Social Services Department,
who gave, in many cases, long and loyal support to this
Department and to wish them and the Social Services Department well
for the future.
I would like to express my thanks to the Chairman of the Health
Committee, and to the Chairman of the various Committees which this
Department has to serve for their help and often forbearance during the
year. I would also like to thank all the Chief Officers of theCouncil
and their staffs for their help, although, I must on a sad note, say
how much we regretted the death of Mr. Watts, the Borough Engineer.
Mr. Watts had, over a long period, been most helpful to this Department,
on many occasions he had given us particular help on a variety of
schemes we had put in operation. I would also like to thank the Inner
London Education Authority and its officers for their continued support.
I would again stress that although this report is put out under
my name, it could only be written because all the officers of the Department
contribute by their work to the running of the Department, and
I would again take this opportunity of thanking them all for their cooperation.
I am, Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
ROWLAND GWYN DAVIES
Medical Officer of Health