IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0120 SA/DCP
Held at: Wellcome Library
Title: Association of District Community Physicians
Date(s): 1974-1980
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 3 boxes
Name of creator(s): Association of District Community Physicians
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Association was established in Feb 1975, following a proposal made by a meeting of District Community Physicians (DCPs) at the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene Annual Conference, Oct 1974. Its formation resulted from DCPs' overwhelming desire to have their interests and collective opinions properly represented under the reorganised National Health Service. The Regional and Area Medical Officers had already formed their own national associations and the Society of Community Medicine (formerly Society of Medical Officers of Health) had banned the formation of functional groups within its new organisation. The Association of District Community Physicians aimed to provide a forum for discussion of problems peculiar to DCPs; promote interests and views of DCPs and prepare evidence to be submitted on their behalf, to other bodies when necessary; arrange special educational courses and symposia; and promote research projects relevant to needs of DCPs. Initially members were split over whether they should support and maintain allegiance to the Society of Community Medicine, however, the Association did establish strong links with both the Society of Community Medicine and Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, including cross-membership, joint meetings and a shared address (28 Portland Place).
From the start, DCPs were concerned about their new role, duties, terms, training and whom they were to be responsible to. The DCP was a new post and they had no relevant experience or code of practice to use for guidance. In the confusion resulting from NHS reorganisation they felt that their job was ill-defined and they were anxious to remain independent from the pressures and influences of Area Medical Officers [See files in Section D]. It was hoped that by getting together the DCPs would be more effective in arguing their case to the Department of Health and Social Services and British Medical Association. However, their voice was one amongst a number of organisations recently formed to represent community medicine. The Association of District Community Physicians functioned until the next health service reorganisation in 1982 and subsequently merged into the new Association of District Medical Officers.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
The collection covers material relating to activities of the Association of District Community Physicians from its inception to 1980. They include minutes, lists of members, newsletters and subject files. Many files relate to the role of the District Community Physician in the reorganised NHS. The final year of its existence is not covered; however, some information may be found in the papers of the Society of Medical Officers of Health (SA/SMO) and Association of Area Medical Officers of Health (SA/AMO).
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
The collection is divided into sections as follows:
A. Minutes:
A.1 Executive Council, 1974-1980;
A.2 Annual General Meetings, 1975-1979;
A.3 Community Physicians in Greater London.
B. Lists of members
C. Newsletters
D. Subject files
Conditions governing access:
The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.
Finding aids:
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
These papers were transferred to the Wellcome Library by the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford (together with a number of other collections including the papers of the Society of Medical Officers of Health) in 1996. They had been placed in the Oxford Unit in 1987. It has not been possible to trace the original depositor from the surviving accessions information; however, it is likely to have been the last President or Secretary.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
In the Wellcome Library: Relevant information may be found in the papers of the Society of Medical Officers of Health (SA/SMO) and Association of Area Medical Officers of Health (SA/AMO).
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.
Date(s) of descriptions: Jan 2009