[Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Worcestershire / County of Worcester County Council.

  • Worcestershire (England). County Council.
Date:
1969
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Worcestershire / County of Worcester County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/130 (page 3)
    Telephone : Worcester 23400 County Health Department, Love’s Grove, Castle Street, Worcester. wrI 3bz To the Chairman, Aldermen and Members of Worcestershire County Council. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Public Health Officers’ Regulations, 1959 require the County Medical Officer of Health and Principal School Medical Officer to produce an annual report. To comply with these requirements I have pleasure in presenting my first annual report but in so doing would say that the credit for 1969 really belongs to Dr. J. W. Pickup whom I succeeded on the 18th September, 1969. Dr. Pickup first came to Worcestershire as Deputy County Medical Officer of Health in 1947 and was appointed as Chief Officer some five years later. He had shouldered this important position superbly and was always noted for his enthusiasm and drive. I am indeed proud to follow Dr. Pickup having had the opportunity of receiving his guidance and wisdom in my capacity as Deputy County Medical Officer of Health. Statistics : The estimated population for the administrative County as at the 30th June, 1969 shows an increase of 5,630 over the previous year. We are obviously facing consider¬ able increases in population for the next two or three decades with the New Town of Redditch, Droitwich Borough and Birmingham Overspill programmes. Health Centres : Progress is being maintained in the planning stages of health centres, but it is extremely difficult to get a particular project off the ground. There is every indication that two major schemes (Redditch (Smallwood) and Kidderminster) will get under way during the coming year. I would like to extend to all who are involved with health centres my most grateful thanks for their help and co-operation. Care of Mothers Special mention has been made under Part III of the report concerning the scheme and Young for notification of congenital defects apparent at birth. Details are also given of the Children : “ At Risk List.” This is a register of children who are particularly liable to develop an abnormality for a variety of reasons. At the risk of duplication I would also like to refer in passing to the new toddlers’ clinics that are being established in the County. These special medical clinics are in my opinion establishing a real need for closer co-operation between the parent, medical officer in department and the general practitioner. It is hoped that the scheme can be extended to all parts of the County at the earliest opportunity when more medical staff have had the opportunity of attending courses on developmental paediatrics. The child health clinics continue to provide a most useful service and the attendances show an increase over 1968. I would like to compliment the voluntary helpers who work in our clinics. They certainly provide a most valuable contribution which goes far in assisting the already hard pressed health visitors. It is pleasing to record that the family planning clinics are now well established. The programme for full County coverage is certainly proceeding rapidly. I have to record with regret that the cervical cytology service is still not attracting those who are most at risk, and as mentioned in the body of the report we are at a loss to know how we can persuade them to attend our clinics. The new experiment of carrying the service to the patient by way of visiting factories has so far paid off. With the co-operation of management expansion can be contemplated. Compared with last year the duties under the Nurseries and Child Minders Act, 1948, have increased considerably. This was anticipated following amendment of the Act by the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, and a ceiling has I am sure, not yet been reached. The work has made a great impact on the medical and health visiting staff of the department who were already under considerable pressure of work. This is one of the services likely to leave the health department by the im¬ plementation of the “ Seebohm Report ” and the new Social Services Department will have to be made aware of the many problems that are involved in administering this very necessary and vital service. The Chief Dental Officer, in his report on the dental treatment of expectant and nursing mothers, has quite rightly presented a most discouraging picture. It is a scheme which has been encouraged over the years by the Ministry of Health and laterly by the Department of Health and Social Security but all to no avail. An adver¬ tisement campaign through the medium of health education has also been unsuccessful. Could it be that action at national level is now called for to clarify the position as to where this group of people receive their dental treatment ?