Yorkshire Branch

PUBLIC HEALTH, April, 1947 was sufficient to justify h o l d i n g the event, b u t insufficient to warrant special invitations to distinguished guests, a n d it was decided that the event should be essentially a social g a t h e r i n g followed by a meeting of general interest.

The Curtis Report A discussion on this report was opened by the President a n d Dr. Greta Hartley. Other m e m b e r s t a k i n g part in a long a n d -interesting discussion were Drs. Irving Bell, Blackett, D e n h a m , Gray, Jean M u r r a y a n d Astley Watson. As a result of the deliberations the Hon. Secretary was asked to send the Branch's observations to t h e Executive Secretary.

YORKSHIRE BRANCH President: Dr. E. D. Irvine (M.O.H., Dewsbury C.B.). Hon. Secretary: Dr. J. M. Gibson (M.O.H., Huddersfield C.B.). A n ordinary m e e t i n g was held in the Civic Hall, Leeds, on Friday, N o v e m b e r 29th, 1946, at 2.30 p.m. T h i s was preceded by a m e e t i n g of the Council, at w h i c h ten m e m b e r s were present. A t the ordinary m e e t i n g t h e President a n d 23 m e m b e r s were p~esent. T h e Hon. Secretary reported that t h e following new m e m b e r s h a d joined the Yorkshire B r a n c h : Drs. F. Appleton (M.O.H., Brighouse), Glen (M.O.H., Barnoldswick), Holderness (Arthingtou, Leeds), F. Stang (A.M.O.H., Huddersfield), G. Walker (Dep. M.O.H., N o r t h R i d i n g C.C.), J. F. W a r i n (A.M.O.H., Leeds), a n d Hester E. de C. Woodcock (A.M.O.H., Leeds). T h e President t h e n welcomed Drs. Appleton, Baxter a n d Snell, who were a t t e n d i n g their first meeting. T h e Hon. Secretary s u b m i t t e d letter relative to the n o m i n a t i o n of Dr. F. Hall, c.B.z., C o u n t y Medical Officer for Lancashire, by the N o r t h - W e s t e r n Branch, for election as President of the Society for t h e session 1947-48. It was resolved t h a t consideration of this m a t t e r be deferred. T h e Hon. Secretary s u b m i t t e d the following letters received from the Executive S e c r e t a r y : - (i) Confidential letter on the application of the " c l o s e d s h o p " to Medical Officers by local authorities. (ii) Ice C r e a m : T h e Yorkshire B r a n c h was asked to give f u r t h e r consideration to its resolution r e g a r d i n g ice cream control in the light of t h e discussion at the Council m e e t i n g of t h e Society. Items (i) a n d (ii) referred to above were considered, b u t no resolutions were passed. (iii) Curtis Committee's Report.--It was resolved t h a t this be the subject for discussion at the next m e e t i n g of the Branch. Obstetricians in the National Health Service.--It was resolved t h a t t h e m e m b e r s of the Yorkshire Branch support Dr. Brockington's views contained in his letter a n d m e m o r a n d u m on this subject. Areas of Regional Hospital Boards.--The size of t h e new areas was c o m m e n t e d upon a n d it was generally considered t h a t smaller areas would have been better in m a n y respects. It was resolved t h a t attention be called to t h e inclusion of Goole in the Sheffield area as it was considered by t h e m e m b e r s of t h e B r a n c h t h a t Goole should be included in the Leeds area. (This a m e n d m e n t was subsequently m a d e by the Minister.) Dental Sub-Group.~The Hou. Secretary reported on his interviews with t h e Hart. Secretary of this Sub-Group. He also subm i t t e d circular letter received from the Executive Secretary relative to r e c r u i t m e n t for the Dental Officers' Group. An address entitled "Random Reflections" was t h e n given by Dr. A. L. Taylor (M.O.H., Rothwell) in which he covered such topics as hospitalisation of scarlet fever, terminal disinfection a n d problem families. A n u m b e r of m e m b e r s took part in the subseq u e n t discussion, a n d Dr. Taylor was warmly t h a n k e d on a motion proposed b y Dr. D. D. Payne, seconded by Dr. J Wood Wilson.

A n O r d i n a r y M e e t i n g was held in the Civic Hall, Leeds, on Friday, J a n u a r y 3rd, 1947, at 2.30 p.m. T h i s was preceded by a m e e t i n g of t h e Council, at which eleven m e m b e r s were present. At the Ordinary Meeting, t h e President was in the chair and 30 m e m b e r s were present. T h e President congratulated Dr. T u d o r Lewis on his new appointm e n t a n d expressed the regrets of the m e m b e r s of the Yorkshire B r a n c h at his departure from Yorkshire. T h e Hon. Secretary reported t h a t he h a d written to Dr. W. J. Frain on b e h a l f of the B r a n c h expressing s y m p a t h y with h i m in his illness. Consideration of the n o m i n a t i o n of President of the Society for 1947-48 was adjourned for two m o n t h s .

151 T h e Hon. Secretary reported t h a t t h e following h a d become m e m b e r s of the Society: Drs. G. R. Baxter (Leeds), B. N. Ecdy (Kingston-upon-Hull), R. I. S. Lewis (Halifax), a n d E. Snell (Barnsley). Dr. Lewis, who was present at this meeting, was welcomed by the President. T h e Hon. Secretary s u b m i t t e d letter a n d enclosures received from the Executive Secretary relating to the change of policy in regard to m e m b e r s h i p of a Trade U n i o n ; a n d to t h e D r a f t Supera n n u a t i o n Regulations under the new Act a n d an explanatory memorandum. Correspondence with Dr. Blackwood was reported relative to the attendance of " j u n i o r m e m b e r s , " at B r a n c h meetings. She wondered if s o m e t h i n g could be done to encourage their attendance a n d enable t h e m to take more interest in the affairs of the B r a n c h a n d of the Society. It was resolved t h a t the Secretary write to all senior M.O.s H. asking t h e m to look into this m a t t e r to see if greater help and e n c o u r a g e m e n t could be given to the junior m e m b e r s to attend meetings. (It was suggested t h a t where a medical officer's session clashed invariably with the B r a n c h meetings a rata of medical officers m i g h t be possible.) Dr. Catherin~ B. Crane (M.O.H., York C.B.) then read a paper on t h e Curtis "and Clyde Committees' reports, which, with the s u b s e q u e n t discussion, will be separately printed in PUBLIC HEALTH.

DENTAL OFFICERS' GROUP President: K. C. B. Webster, L.D.S. (Chief D.C., H e n d o n M.B.) Hon. Secretary: J. V. Bingay, M.E.E., z.n.s. (Senior D.C., Twick-

ertham M.B.).

Group Council Meeting A m e e t i n g of t h e Group Council was held at Tavistock House o n Saturday, J a n u a r y l l t h , 1947. T h e chair was taken by Mr. K. C. B. Webster at I0 o'clock a n d there were also present: Messrs. K. Batten, J, V Bingay, D. T. Cooper, G. M. Davie, H. B. Fleming, J. Fletcher, Major-General J. P. Helliwell, Messrs. P. G. Oliver, J. F. Pilbeam, J. Rhys-Herbert, A. G. Taylor, J. Y o u n g a n d T. McLelland, observers from the P.D.O.G. of the British Dental Association. Apologies for absence h a d been received from Miss W. M. H u n t a n d Mr. J. G. Richardson. Major-General Helliwell apologised for his non-attendance at Council meetings in the i m m e d i a t e past, which he said h a d been entirely due to his recent illness. T h e President, replying, said t h e Group Council warmly welcomed the General's return to their deliberations and were delighted t h a t his health was so m u c h improved. T h e m i n u t e s of t h e previous m e e t i n g were read a n d confirmed. Ministry of Education Administrative Memorandum No. 116 of December, 1945.--The Secretary h a d obtained a copy of this Memo, which provided t h a t children a t t e n d i n g clinics and elsewhere for medical inspection a n d t r e a t m e n t unless present at the time of the m a r k i n g of registers should be m a r k e d absent. It was considered t h a t this m i g h t adversely affect attendances at dental clinics. M e m b e r s were asked to report any instances where this could be shown to have occurred." As the School Medical Service Group were also concerned the Hon. Secretary was instructed to ask the S.M.S. G r o u p for their views. Jubilee Dinner.~The President reported t h a t t h e dinner would be held on Saturday, M a r c h 15th, 1947, at Claridge's Restaurant. T h e cost of tickets would be 24s. a n d evening dress would be optional. As t h e occasion was an i m p o r t a n t one in the Group's history it was hoped t h a t the dinner would be well supported. Correspondence.--(1) A letter from the Secretary of the Medical Advisory Body h e a d e d " T r e n c h Mouth. R e s t a u r a n t H y g i e n e " was discussed. As the possibility of spreading infection by cracked a n d faultily washed crockery was considered to be an important matter a committee consisting Of Messrs. Bingay, Cooper a n d Taylor was appointed to frame a suitable reply. (2) A letter from the Executive Secretary calling attention to the S u m m e r Congress of the So'ci&~ d'Hygi~ne Scolaire et Universitaire de la Cit6 de Paris, from J u n e 25th t8 29th, 1947, was read. It was decided to explore the possibility of the Group's being represented at this meeting. Reports of Committees.--(1) It was reported t h a t a m e e t i n g of the combined Executives of the Group and the P.D.O.C*. of the British Dental Association h a d been held on J a n u a r y 3rd to consider m a t t e r s of m u t u a l interest in connection with the National Health Service Act. (2) Refresher Course Sub-committee.--This course would last one week and commence on Wednesday, A u g u s t 27th, 1947. T h e venue would be the E a s t m a n Dental" Clinic, London. Mr. A C. Devere!l, the Director of the Clinic, had, in consultation with the Executive, drawn up an excellent syllabus. T h e r e appeared to be good prospects of o b t a i n i n g billeting facilities at an inclusive charge of £4 7s. 6d. for the week. Mr. J. F. Pilbeam t h o u g h t the