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East Anglian Branch
PUBLIC HEALTH, July, 1949
214
SOCIETY
OF
MEDICAL
OFFICERS
OF
HEALTH
NOTICES
THE ANNUAL DINNER The Council have decided to change the plan previously announced for a Luncheon in September an to revert to the pre-war practice of the Society by holding an Annual Dinner early in the new session, this year on Thursday evening, November 24th, at the Piccadilly Hotel, W . I . The President for 1949-50 (Dr. H. C. Maurice Williams, O.B.E.) will lYe in the chair and will be supported by the immediate PastPresident (Prof. R. H. Parry, E.R.C.P.). Distinguished guests are being invited and it is hoped that many members of the Society and their personal guests will attend, observing that the evening selected precedes the opening of the Joint Meeting with the British Paediatric Association and of the County District M.Os.H. Refresher Course, both mentioned below. A meeting of the Council will also be held on Friday morning, November 25th, at 10 a.m. Tickets for the Dinner will cost 22s. 6d. each (inclusive of tips and coffee, but not of drinks and smokes) and the Executive Secretary would appreciate early applications with remittances. ORDINARY MEETING PRECEDING JOINT MEETING WITH N.A.P.T. An ordinary meeting will be held at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15th next, for the election of members and other business. This meeting precedes a joint meeting to be held jointly with the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, the latter to act as hosts. T h e r e will be a discussion on the prevention of tuberculosis and care and after-care of sufferers from the disease, provided for under the National Health Service Act, 1946. Other details will be announced later. JOINT MEETING OF THE BRITISH PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION AND OF GROUPS OF THE SOCIETY OF M.O.H. November 9,5th and 26th A joint meeting of the British Paediatric Association and of the Maternity and Child Welfare, School Health Service and Fever Hospital Groups of the Society will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 25th and 26th next. The programme will be: Friday morning, November 25th (in the Great Hall, B.M.A. House). A symposium on "Organisation of the Child Health Services." Friday a[ternoon (Great Hall, B.M.A. House). The Frederick Still Lecture will be delivered by Professor Huggett, followed by a short discussion. Friday evening. A Soirde wilt be held at the Royal Society of Medicine. Saturday morning, November 26th (Great Hall, B.M.A. House). Six selected clinical papers followed by short discussions. Saturday afternoon (at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, W.C.1). Clinical demonstrations. The meeting will be limited to 250, of which 100 places will be taken by the B.P.A., 60 each by the M. & C.W. and S.H.S. Groups and 30 by the Fever Hospital Group. The registration fee will be 10s. 6d. and the Hun. Treasurer will be the Executive Secretary of the Society of M.O.H., to whom applications should be addressed. The approval of the Ministers of Health and Education for payment of expenses in attending is being sought. REFRESHER COURSE FOR SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICERS, BRISTOL, SEPTEMBER 20th-27th INCLUSIVE T h e programme of the above course previously announced with be as follows : ~ Tuesday, 20th.--Dinner and welcoming speech. Wednesday, 21st.--Mr. Belsey on " Chest Conditions in School Children " ; Dr. Fraser Roberts on " T h e Use of Statistics in the SchoOl Health Service " ; Miss Cook with Physical Training Demonstration, T h e Laban School of Movement Training. Thursday, 22nd.--Professor Bruce Perry on " Rheumatism " or on " Cardiac Conditions in Children " ; Dr. R. F. Barbour on "Projection T e s t s " ; Professor Golla, lecture-demonstration on " Electro-encephalography and Allied Material." Friday, 2 3 r d . - - M r . W. Lumsden on " Special Schools " ; Dr. Parry on " T h e Future of the Health Service " ; Professor Neale, Clinical Afternoon at the Children's Hospital. Evening: Mr. Sylvester on " Future Trends in Education." Saturday, 24th.--Dr. Wofinden on " Problem Families " ; Dr. Wagland on " Health Education." Monday, 2 6 t h . ~ M i s s McBride on " Education of the Educationally-Subnormal Child " ; Dr. Faulkner Hudson on " The Juvenile in Industry " ; Visits to Special and Open-Air Schools. Tuesday, 27th.~Professor Neale, opening Discussion on " Social Pediatrics " ; Dr. Parry's farewell speech.
REPORTS
EAST ANGLIAN BRANCH President : Dr. Hilda Hay (C.M.O.H., Isle of Ely). Hun. Secretary : Dr. A. J. Rae (Deputy C.M.O.H., West Suffolk). A meeting of the Branch was held at the Guest House, Brome, near Diss, on Saturday, May 14th, 1949, at 3 p.m. T h e President was in the chair, and 21 members were present. T h e Secretary reported that all members of the Branch had been circulated with regard to the proposed Branch dinner on June 1 lth, but only ten had signified that they would be present. It was therefore agreed that the dinner should not be held. T h e Branch decided to support the nomination of Dr. Greenwood Wilson, Medical Officer of Health, Cardiff, for the Presidency of the Society for the coming session. It was reported that Dr. J. W. McIntosh, who had resigned from his appointment as Medical Officer of Health of King's Lynn, had been a member of the Society since 1920, and it was agreed to recommend that he be elected to life membership.
District Councils and their Medical Officers Dr. J. C. Johnston, Area and District Medical Officer for parts of Norfolk, opened a discussion on the above subject. He favoured a two-tier system of local government with the larger authority controlling broader issues but with day-to-day administration in the hands of a more local body. He considered that many of the present districts were too small for efficiency, and suggested that a suitable unit would be one large enough to have a staff of two medical officers, but not more than two, with suitable clerical and other assistance, centred at one office, to carry out all the functions o f both the local sanitary and the health authorities in the area. Dr. Johnston thought that the district councils would probably retain their present duties, and was of opinion that the medical? officer of health should take an active part in housing work, inspecting some properties himself, urging the making of demolition and clearance orders where necessary, and advising his authority on the selection of tenants. H e expressed dissatisfaction with the present state of affairs in regard to smallpox, responsibility for the control of which had been left with the local sanitary authority although facilities for doing so had passed very. largely to other authorities. He urged that the Ministry of Health should communicate direct with the medical officers of local sanitary authorities regarding smallpox. Considerable discussion followed in which it was stressed that the personality of the M.O.H. was the important factor in determining the success or otherwise of any combined appointment. A keen, knowledgeable officer, able to appreciate the relative importance o f various duties, could serve both district and county better than one who divided his week into watertight compartments strictly in accordance with the allocation of his salary. The discussion merged into a general discussion on the future of the public health service, considerable concern being expressed at a recent Ministerial statement in which it was suggested that medical officers of health of local authorities charged with the statutoI3" duty of providing care and after care should receive n o information other than the addresses of the persons concerned. The next meeting of the Branch was fixed for July 14th, when it was hoped that members would be able to visit the recently opened Home for the Blind at Cloncurry, Felixstowe. NORTH-WESTERN
BRANCH
President: Dr. J. Innes (M.O.H., Rochdale C.B.). Hun. Secretary : Dr. J. E. Spence (M.O.H., Eccles M.B.). T h e annual meeting of the Branch was held at Messrs. T u r n e r Bros. Asbestos Works, Rochdale, on Friday, June 17th, 1949. Thirty-two members and 12 guests assembled in ti~e board-room of the works, and were welcomed by Mr. Morling on behalf of the firm. They then divided into three parties, and were conducted round the works, and the ladies were shown other parts of the works by Miss Oliver and Miss Dickinson. After inspecting the works, the members were entertained to tea by the management. Election of President and O~cers, 1949-50. T h e annual meeting was then held. T h e minutes of the last annual meeting were approved, and the reports of the Hun. Treasurer and Hun. Secretary were presented and adopted. On the proposition of Dr. C. Metcalfe Brown, seconded by Dr. E. H. Walker, Dr. J. Yule, Medical Officer of Health of Stockport, was unanimously elected President for the ensuing year. T h e election of the following officers was proposed by Dr. R. E. Robinson, seconded by Dr. J. O. Millar, and carried : Vice-President : Dr. J. Innes. Hun. Treasurer: Dr. R. M. Galloway. Hun. Secretary: Dr. J. S. G. Burnett.
214
SOCIETY
OF
MEDICAL
OFFICERS
OF
HEALTH
NOTICES
THE ANNUAL DINNER The Council have decided to change the plan previously announced for a Luncheon in September an to revert to the pre-war practice of the Society by holding an Annual Dinner early in the new session, this year on Thursday evening, November 24th, at the Piccadilly Hotel, W . I . The President for 1949-50 (Dr. H. C. Maurice Williams, O.B.E.) will lYe in the chair and will be supported by the immediate PastPresident (Prof. R. H. Parry, E.R.C.P.). Distinguished guests are being invited and it is hoped that many members of the Society and their personal guests will attend, observing that the evening selected precedes the opening of the Joint Meeting with the British Paediatric Association and of the County District M.Os.H. Refresher Course, both mentioned below. A meeting of the Council will also be held on Friday morning, November 25th, at 10 a.m. Tickets for the Dinner will cost 22s. 6d. each (inclusive of tips and coffee, but not of drinks and smokes) and the Executive Secretary would appreciate early applications with remittances. ORDINARY MEETING PRECEDING JOINT MEETING WITH N.A.P.T. An ordinary meeting will be held at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15th next, for the election of members and other business. This meeting precedes a joint meeting to be held jointly with the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, the latter to act as hosts. T h e r e will be a discussion on the prevention of tuberculosis and care and after-care of sufferers from the disease, provided for under the National Health Service Act, 1946. Other details will be announced later. JOINT MEETING OF THE BRITISH PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION AND OF GROUPS OF THE SOCIETY OF M.O.H. November 9,5th and 26th A joint meeting of the British Paediatric Association and of the Maternity and Child Welfare, School Health Service and Fever Hospital Groups of the Society will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 25th and 26th next. The programme will be: Friday morning, November 25th (in the Great Hall, B.M.A. House). A symposium on "Organisation of the Child Health Services." Friday a[ternoon (Great Hall, B.M.A. House). The Frederick Still Lecture will be delivered by Professor Huggett, followed by a short discussion. Friday evening. A Soirde wilt be held at the Royal Society of Medicine. Saturday morning, November 26th (Great Hall, B.M.A. House). Six selected clinical papers followed by short discussions. Saturday afternoon (at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, W.C.1). Clinical demonstrations. The meeting will be limited to 250, of which 100 places will be taken by the B.P.A., 60 each by the M. & C.W. and S.H.S. Groups and 30 by the Fever Hospital Group. The registration fee will be 10s. 6d. and the Hun. Treasurer will be the Executive Secretary of the Society of M.O.H., to whom applications should be addressed. The approval of the Ministers of Health and Education for payment of expenses in attending is being sought. REFRESHER COURSE FOR SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICERS, BRISTOL, SEPTEMBER 20th-27th INCLUSIVE T h e programme of the above course previously announced with be as follows : ~ Tuesday, 20th.--Dinner and welcoming speech. Wednesday, 21st.--Mr. Belsey on " Chest Conditions in School Children " ; Dr. Fraser Roberts on " T h e Use of Statistics in the SchoOl Health Service " ; Miss Cook with Physical Training Demonstration, T h e Laban School of Movement Training. Thursday, 22nd.--Professor Bruce Perry on " Rheumatism " or on " Cardiac Conditions in Children " ; Dr. R. F. Barbour on "Projection T e s t s " ; Professor Golla, lecture-demonstration on " Electro-encephalography and Allied Material." Friday, 2 3 r d . - - M r . W. Lumsden on " Special Schools " ; Dr. Parry on " T h e Future of the Health Service " ; Professor Neale, Clinical Afternoon at the Children's Hospital. Evening: Mr. Sylvester on " Future Trends in Education." Saturday, 24th.--Dr. Wofinden on " Problem Families " ; Dr. Wagland on " Health Education." Monday, 2 6 t h . ~ M i s s McBride on " Education of the Educationally-Subnormal Child " ; Dr. Faulkner Hudson on " The Juvenile in Industry " ; Visits to Special and Open-Air Schools. Tuesday, 27th.~Professor Neale, opening Discussion on " Social Pediatrics " ; Dr. Parry's farewell speech.
REPORTS
EAST ANGLIAN BRANCH President : Dr. Hilda Hay (C.M.O.H., Isle of Ely). Hun. Secretary : Dr. A. J. Rae (Deputy C.M.O.H., West Suffolk). A meeting of the Branch was held at the Guest House, Brome, near Diss, on Saturday, May 14th, 1949, at 3 p.m. T h e President was in the chair, and 21 members were present. T h e Secretary reported that all members of the Branch had been circulated with regard to the proposed Branch dinner on June 1 lth, but only ten had signified that they would be present. It was therefore agreed that the dinner should not be held. T h e Branch decided to support the nomination of Dr. Greenwood Wilson, Medical Officer of Health, Cardiff, for the Presidency of the Society for the coming session. It was reported that Dr. J. W. McIntosh, who had resigned from his appointment as Medical Officer of Health of King's Lynn, had been a member of the Society since 1920, and it was agreed to recommend that he be elected to life membership.
District Councils and their Medical Officers Dr. J. C. Johnston, Area and District Medical Officer for parts of Norfolk, opened a discussion on the above subject. He favoured a two-tier system of local government with the larger authority controlling broader issues but with day-to-day administration in the hands of a more local body. He considered that many of the present districts were too small for efficiency, and suggested that a suitable unit would be one large enough to have a staff of two medical officers, but not more than two, with suitable clerical and other assistance, centred at one office, to carry out all the functions o f both the local sanitary and the health authorities in the area. Dr. Johnston thought that the district councils would probably retain their present duties, and was of opinion that the medical? officer of health should take an active part in housing work, inspecting some properties himself, urging the making of demolition and clearance orders where necessary, and advising his authority on the selection of tenants. H e expressed dissatisfaction with the present state of affairs in regard to smallpox, responsibility for the control of which had been left with the local sanitary authority although facilities for doing so had passed very. largely to other authorities. He urged that the Ministry of Health should communicate direct with the medical officers of local sanitary authorities regarding smallpox. Considerable discussion followed in which it was stressed that the personality of the M.O.H. was the important factor in determining the success or otherwise of any combined appointment. A keen, knowledgeable officer, able to appreciate the relative importance o f various duties, could serve both district and county better than one who divided his week into watertight compartments strictly in accordance with the allocation of his salary. The discussion merged into a general discussion on the future of the public health service, considerable concern being expressed at a recent Ministerial statement in which it was suggested that medical officers of health of local authorities charged with the statutoI3" duty of providing care and after care should receive n o information other than the addresses of the persons concerned. The next meeting of the Branch was fixed for July 14th, when it was hoped that members would be able to visit the recently opened Home for the Blind at Cloncurry, Felixstowe. NORTH-WESTERN
BRANCH
President: Dr. J. Innes (M.O.H., Rochdale C.B.). Hun. Secretary : Dr. J. E. Spence (M.O.H., Eccles M.B.). T h e annual meeting of the Branch was held at Messrs. T u r n e r Bros. Asbestos Works, Rochdale, on Friday, June 17th, 1949. Thirty-two members and 12 guests assembled in ti~e board-room of the works, and were welcomed by Mr. Morling on behalf of the firm. They then divided into three parties, and were conducted round the works, and the ladies were shown other parts of the works by Miss Oliver and Miss Dickinson. After inspecting the works, the members were entertained to tea by the management. Election of President and O~cers, 1949-50. T h e annual meeting was then held. T h e minutes of the last annual meeting were approved, and the reports of the Hun. Treasurer and Hun. Secretary were presented and adopted. On the proposition of Dr. C. Metcalfe Brown, seconded by Dr. E. H. Walker, Dr. J. Yule, Medical Officer of Health of Stockport, was unanimously elected President for the ensuing year. T h e election of the following officers was proposed by Dr. R. E. Robinson, seconded by Dr. J. O. Millar, and carried : Vice-President : Dr. J. Innes. Hun. Treasurer: Dr. R. M. Galloway. Hun. Secretary: Dr. J. S. G. Burnett.