AGY-1665 | Department of Public Health [I]

Full description

Following the consolidation of the departments of the Board of Health and Chief Medical Officer to the Government a Department of Public Health was established in April 1904, with the President of the Board of Health classified as its permanent head. (1)

In February 1913, Dr Ashburton Thompson retired from the position of Chief Medical Officer of the Government and President of the Board of Health, while Dr Frank Tidswell resigned from his position as Director of the Government Bureau of Microbiology. The scope of the Department of Public Health was increased to incorporate the functions of the former Metropolitan Charities and Hospitals Department and the Bureau of Microbiology. Dr R.T. Paton became the Director General of Public Health, Chief Medical Officer to the Government and Board of Health from March 1913. (2)

The main functions of the Department of Health were infectious disease control, sanitation and food inspection.


FOOTNOTES:
1) Government Gazette, 15 April 1904, p.3049.
(2) Annual Report of the Director-General of Public Health, 1913, p.1 in Parliamentary Papers, 1914/1915 Vol.4, p.175.