Comments and Evidence

Comments and evidence produced by the Society in relation to central government committees, commissions and working parties, policy and consultative documents, reports and draft regulations. It also includes the Society's responses to local government, public health, training and medical organisations, including quasi-official bodies; responses to members' enquiries; and the Society's own policy initiatives.

The main topics covered are: environmental health; food hygiene and standards; mental health; geriatrics; welfare; disability; dental health; obstetrics and maternal health; child and youth health; school health services; health education; public health professions - status, duties and training; immunisation and vaccination; diseases; screening; nursing; health statistics; NHS reorganisation; health service management.

Comments and evidence were mainly produced or collated by the Council, General Purposes Committee and Secretary, from submissions by individual members with special interests and expertise, the Society's Groups and Branches (see L.127) and special or standing committees and working parties. The Society Secretary sent the final, official version. However, from the early 1980s, official responses were often made directly to the government or other body by individual members on behalf of the Society.

Inevitably, there is a good deal of duplication between this Section and the evidence and comments filed within the General Purposes Committee and Council meeting papers, covering 1966-1997. Also, major evidence provided by the Society was published in Public Health. However, these files merit retention and research because they contain important background correspondence and the Council and General Purposes Committee papers are non-existent prior to 1966 and incomplete thereafter. In addition, from the mid-1980s many of the comments and evidence produced by the Society were not discussed at Council and are not even referred to in the minutes.

Section D should be consulted for additional evidence produced by Society committees and working parties, e.g. evidence for the Seebohm Committee.

1950s-1990s

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