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the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago, neuritis, stiff joints, rickets,
anaemia, debility, etc., etc.
Ample accommodation will be necessary for the various activities of this
Section of the Health Centre, and I advise that the whole of the first floor be
reserved for this purpose apart from that required by the Foot Clinic. It is
suggested that this accommodation should provide for one or more rooms for
collective sunlight treatment, separate for the sexes as well as rooms fitted with
curtained cubicles, each containing a couch and a radiant heat lamp for the
application of electrical and diathermy treatment; a gymnasium ; shower baths ;
dressing rooms ; a control room ; a medical officer's room and accommodation
lor the nurses.
With regard to the question of equipment I feel that this is a matter of such
importance that the Council would be well advised to obtain the services of a
specialist in electrical and physical therapy and radiology, in a consultative
capacity, before instructing the architect.
From my knowledge, however, of this subject the cost of the electro medical
apparatus will be relatively heavy, and it may be found that the initial expenditure
will not be less than £1,500.
I am convinced that this Department of the Health Centre will continue
to grow in popularity and morning, afternoon and evening sessions daily may
become necessary within a very short time. The appointment of three or four
trained nurses full time may have to be considered in this case in addition to the
appointment of a full time Clinic Medical Officer.
Dental Clinic.
A dental service scheme, which is, however, very limited in its scope, is
already a Council service and forms part of the activities of the Public Health
and the Maternity and Child Welfare Committees.
A Municipal Dental Clinic would not only replace with advantage the
Council's present arrangements for providing dental treatment for expectant
and nursing mothers and children under five years and patients suffering from
tuberculosis, but a service of this kind might possibly stimulate the inhabitants
of Camberwell to appreciate the danger to health arising from septic teeth, a
deficiency of teeth and other dental troubles, and to make use of the Council's
Dental Treatment Clinic.
The accommodation necessary for this purpose would be :—
A dental surgery.
A private room for the dental surgeon.
One room for the nurse's use and for record purposes.
A patients' " recovery " room divided into say four curtained cubicles,
each cubicle to be equipped with a running water basin. In one of these
cubicles the provision of a couch would be a desirable item of equipment.
It may be that not more than one dental chair in the beginning would be
required even if the London County Council school dental treatment work is
transferred to the Heath Centre, as I have no doubt that the facilities of the
Municipal Dental Clinic could conveniently be made to serve the requirements of
the two authorities.
Due consideration should, however, be given to the possible future development
of this service in the planning of the dental surgery to enable an additional
dental chair to be provided if necessary.
I also suggest that all the dental work required by patients including the
making of dentures should be carried out at the Clinic. This proposal would
necessitate the appointment of a dental mechanic and the equipping of a dental
workshop.