[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Edinburgh City.

  • Edinburgh (Scotland). City Council.
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Edinburgh City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    thought and skill of the Senior Medical Officer for Health Education and Research and his health education team who had the valuable assistance and advice of the Regional Hospital Board, the Ministry of Labour, various voluntary agencies and other Corporation Departments. While an understanding attitude by the public is essential for progress, a comprehensive and satisfactory service will depend on the close liaison and co-operation of many diverse agencies, and particularly between the three branches of the health service. Mention has been made in previous annual reports of the small technical working party with representatives of the Regional Hospital Board, Local Executive Committee and the Corporation, which were considering the co-ordinated development of services for the mentally disordered in the city. The working party presented its report during the year and its recom- mendations received general approval by the three representative bodies. One of the most important results was the setting up of a medical co-ordinating advisory committee consisting of the Physician Superintendents of the mental hospitals serving the city, the Child Psychiatrist, the Professor of Psychological Medicine, Edinburgh University, three general practitioners, the Senior Administrative Medical Officer of the Regional Hospital Board and the Medical Officer of Health' and Senior Medical Officer for Mental Health for the city. This Committee, which is “ to advise on the development of a unified mental health sendee and on research- and education of the public in mental health matters ” has now been constituted and, with the wide experience and knowledge which it can bring to bear on all aspects of the problem should prove of great value in co-ordinating and developing services in the city in accordance with the aims of the Mental Health Act. Dr K. W. Matheson who acted as secretary to the Working Party and who played a conspicuous part in drawing up its report resigned as Senior Medical Officer for Mental Health Services on his appointment as Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Nottingham. The development of the care and after-care sendees of recent years has been due in great part to his planning and initiative and, in wishing him every success in his new post, the Health Committee will wish to record their deep appreciation of his progressive ideas and conscientious service in building up and administering the mental health section of the department. Clean Air Reference was made in last year’s annual report to the decision of the Corpor- ation that Edinburgh should become a smoke controlled city within a period of 1 fifteen years and to the programme approved by the Health Committee to accomplish this task in three 5-ycar phases. During 19(10 two smoke controlled areas were confirmed by the Secretary of State, one in the central area of the city and the other at Sigh thill. There are now three smoke controlled areas in operation affecting 4,579 premises. In addition the new housing estate at Gracemount is controlled by missive of let and the Sighthill Industrial Estate was created, in 19o7, a smokeless I zone under local powers. Preliminary survey work in connection with future developments in the Central, Sighthill and Corstorphine areas was also carried out during the year. As regards industrial smoke, new boiler plant and the improvement