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Civil defence responsibilities of Medical Officers of Health
1940 CIVIL DEFENCE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH On December 15th, the President (Dr. F. T. H. Wood), Dr. Cyril Banks, Dr. Gordon Lilico and the Executive Secretary, representing the Society of Medical Officers of Health, were received at the Ministry of Health by Mr. A. W. Neville, Mr. H. A. de Montmorency, Dr. Thomas Carnwath (Deputy Chief Medical Officer) I)r. J. H. Hebb (Director-General, Emergency Medical Services) and Dr. Charles Seeley, and by Messrs C. J. R. Whelmath and S. D. Sargent, of the Ministry of Home Security. The President spoke in amplification of a memorandum, submitted in advance by the deputation, which had expressed the concern felt by the Society over certain questions relating to the administration of civil defence casualty and hospital services, and regretted that means had not been found for consultation between the departments and the Society in matters where the practical local experience of medical officers of health might have been helpful in the formulation of new policies. Dr. Wood said that the main object of the deputation was not to go into past difficulties, many of which were smoothing themselves out in course of time but to ask the Departments to give opportunities for advance discussion of new circulars or schemes and for consultation over current difficulties. Drs. Lilico and Banks also spoke on certain present points at issue includi~g the questions of local executive control by medical officers of health of first-aid parties and aid posts, and of the need for clarification of the relationship between the Hospital Officer, Medical Officer of Health and Group Officer. Dr. Hebb said that he hoped that the new arrangement by which he would act as chief officer in regard to medical matters concerning both the Ministry of Health and the Home Office would bring about close co-ordination between the Central Departments. In regard to local control of A.R.P. casualty services, he agreed that medical officers of health should be the officers immediately responsible for their administration and control subject to general direction from A.R.P. controllers. After further discussion, Mr. Neville said that he agreed as to the desirability of advance consultation on these matters between the Departments and the Society whenever circumstances permitted. In view of the urgent nature of decisions which had to be made in time of war, he suggested that the consultative committee appointed by the Society should be a small one so t h a t contact could be quickly established. It was agreed that consultation should be effected jointly with representatives of the Ministries concerned and should extend to consideration of matters which the Society thought desirable to bring forward. The President said that in matters of real urgency, the Society recognised the need for a quick method of consultation such as could be reached by a small committee; he thought that the Society's committee should include a representative county medical officer of health, as the counties had special problems. As to less urgent matters, he suggested that the method usually followed by the Ministry of Health on the
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public health side, of sending the Society drafts of circulars and regulations and of asking for its observations, might be followed also in regard to civil defence matters. He expressed thanks to the representatives of the Ministries for receiving the Societv's deputation.
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES IN WAR-TIME The Board of Education have now followed up their circular on school dental services in war-time (which was summarised in our last issue) with Circular 1,490, dated December 14th, dealing with school health services as a whole. Paragraph 1 refers to previous circulars and memoranda issued by the Board regarding various aspects of the school services. In paragraph 9. the Board say that they recognise the difficulties presented by the full resumption of services, but that while some local education authorkies have made a determined effort to surmount these difficulties, in other areas the staff and premises have been allocated to other purposes. They give the combined opinion of the Board and of the Ministers of Heakh and of Home Security that the time has now come when the normal school health staff and premises should be returned to their previous use, subject to their being available immediately for the casuaky service if need arise. Paragraphs 8 to 6 refer to the problems of evacuation areas. It is suggested that medical, dental and nursing staff, who have not been transferred to reception areas, and clinics taken back from other purposes can do much to secure resumption of the health services for unevacuated children. Full provision should be made for the treatment especially of skin diseases, such as scabies and impetigo. The agreement of the Minister of Home Security is granted to the use of A.R.P. cleansing stations for the cleansing of school children. The need for an intensive effort by local authorities is urged and it is suggested that where many of the normal staff have been transferred to reception areas additional temporary staff should be engaged by the evacuated area. The work should be organised in such a way that by the end of three months all children will have been inspected and, if necessary, treated. The Board think that it should be practicable to arrange for the provision of meals and milk and to devise a scheme by which parents should send their children to schools or centres to receive milk or payment. Paragraph 7 refers to neutral areas and says that it is hoped that all schools therein will soon be re-opened and the school health services function normally. Paragraph 8 deals with reception areas. It is said that there is evidence that in some such areas the staff is still seriously inadequate to meet the needs of the evacuated children in spite of the transfers of staffs from reception areas. The Board reiterate their view that reception area education authorities should provide for evacuated children services of the same standard and scope as those for the local children; whatever additional staff is needed for this purpose will not involve any ultimate additional expenditure by the receiving authority.
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public health side, of sending the Society drafts of circulars and regulations and of asking for its observations, might be followed also in regard to civil defence matters. He expressed thanks to the representatives of the Ministries for receiving the Societv's deputation.
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES IN WAR-TIME The Board of Education have now followed up their circular on school dental services in war-time (which was summarised in our last issue) with Circular 1,490, dated December 14th, dealing with school health services as a whole. Paragraph 1 refers to previous circulars and memoranda issued by the Board regarding various aspects of the school services. In paragraph 9. the Board say that they recognise the difficulties presented by the full resumption of services, but that while some local education authorkies have made a determined effort to surmount these difficulties, in other areas the staff and premises have been allocated to other purposes. They give the combined opinion of the Board and of the Ministers of Heakh and of Home Security that the time has now come when the normal school health staff and premises should be returned to their previous use, subject to their being available immediately for the casuaky service if need arise. Paragraphs 8 to 6 refer to the problems of evacuation areas. It is suggested that medical, dental and nursing staff, who have not been transferred to reception areas, and clinics taken back from other purposes can do much to secure resumption of the health services for unevacuated children. Full provision should be made for the treatment especially of skin diseases, such as scabies and impetigo. The agreement of the Minister of Home Security is granted to the use of A.R.P. cleansing stations for the cleansing of school children. The need for an intensive effort by local authorities is urged and it is suggested that where many of the normal staff have been transferred to reception areas additional temporary staff should be engaged by the evacuated area. The work should be organised in such a way that by the end of three months all children will have been inspected and, if necessary, treated. The Board think that it should be practicable to arrange for the provision of meals and milk and to devise a scheme by which parents should send their children to schools or centres to receive milk or payment. Paragraph 7 refers to neutral areas and says that it is hoped that all schools therein will soon be re-opened and the school health services function normally. Paragraph 8 deals with reception areas. It is said that there is evidence that in some such areas the staff is still seriously inadequate to meet the needs of the evacuated children in spite of the transfers of staffs from reception areas. The Board reiterate their view that reception area education authorities should provide for evacuated children services of the same standard and scope as those for the local children; whatever additional staff is needed for this purpose will not involve any ultimate additional expenditure by the receiving authority.
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