§ MR. J. A. CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of the Local Government 1861 Board, If he can state the result of his inquiries into the circumstances of the recent appointment of a Medical Officer of Health by the Town Council of Cheltenham?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLWe have obtained further particulars as to the appointment of Mr. Roch. It is true that when he was appointed he had a surgical qualification only. The Regulations of the Board require that unless they dispense with the requirement a Medical Officer of Health shall possess both a medical and surgical qualification; and in the case of a borough such as Cheltenham we should not have consented to the office being held by a medical man with one qualification only. But Mr. Roch about three weeks before the date when he was to enter upon his duties obtained the requisite medical qualification. The Town Council, when this further qualification had been obtained, ratified the election by formally applying to the Board to dispense with the requirement referred to so far as was necessary, in consequence of Mr. Roch not actually possessing at the time of the election the double qualification. The Board have complied with their request, and have sanctioned the appointment.