Reflections on the duties and training of the staff of a public health department.

Abstract

by R. H. PARRY, M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.H., F.R.SAN.I., Medical Officer of Health, Bristol; Professor of Preventive Medicine, University of Bristol THE doctors, sanitary inspectors and health visitors form three main pillars of a -L public health department because they are its contacts with the public it serves. Upon the success with which this &dquo; triad &dquo; carries out its duties to-day depends the future success of the public health service as we know it in this country. Consideration of &dquo; training &dquo; is inevitably tied up with &dquo; function,&dquo; for if training is to be rational it must have regard to the duties to be performed. Therefore I hope to consider briefly the function of the health department and thereafter the purpose for which the staff have to be trained. I do not propose to consider detailed training