Folio 214. Letter from Charles Wright, Clerk to the Mitford and Launditch Rural Sanitary...

Folio 214. Letter from Charles Wright, Clerk to the Mitford and Launditch Rural Sanitary Authority, to the Local Government Board, concerning the appointment of a medical officer of health. He states that the guardians are aware of the obligations placed upon them by statute and have used their best endeavours to obtain agreement of other unions for the joint appointment of a medical officer of health, albeit unsuccessfully. Being aware that a bill currently before parliament would enable the Board to compel unions towards this agreement, they request to wait as to its outcome. However, if the Board insists on the immediate appointment of a medical officer of health solely for this union, the guardians feel compelled to adopt the alternative appointment of Doctor Bateman or some other independent medical practitioner. He remarks that since October 1873, the services of a medical officer of health has not been required by the union.
Annotated: ' I beg to advise the Board to call on this authority to make to them in the usual form and without further delay, a proposal for the election of a medical officer of Health, see my minute on paper 12234/1875'. 10 March 1875.
Annotated: 'Say that the Board cannot say what the result of their proposal with respect to joint appointments may be; but the fact that such a proposal has been made does not in any way relieve the guardians from their duty of appointing a medical officer of health, and the Board have no alternative but to see that their duty is complied with. At the same time they may add that they will not object to the temporary appointment in the first instance for a period of six or twelve months', 12 March 1875.

Paper Number: 16307/1875.

Poor Law Union Number: 302.

Counties: Norfolk.