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36
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
The London County Council, as the Local Health Authority, became
responsible for the health services set out in Part 111 of the National Health
Service Act on 5th July, 1948. These services are now commonly referred to
as the“personal” health services as distinct from the environmental health
services for which the Metropolitan Boroughs continue to be responsible.
For the purposes of administering the personal health services the
Metropolitan Boroughs have been grouped in nine divisions. Deptford
is included in Division 6, together with the Boroughs of Greenwich and
Woolwich. The administration of the services is in the hands of the
Divisional Medical Officer, Dr. F. R. Waldron, who is assisted in the
day-to-day work by the Medical Officers of Health of the three Boroughs.
Such a system has certain inherent defects but co-operation between the
staffs of the County Council and the Borough Council has been very good
indeed and the very happy and smooth working of the services in Deptford
is very largely due to the efforts of Dr. Waldron.
The services which are provided at the various clinics are as follows:—
Health Centre, Amersham Road, S.E.14.
Infant Welfare, Toddlers, Ante-Natal and Post-Natal clinics.
Ante-natal exercise clinic.
Vaccination and Immunisation.
Artificial sunlight.
Sewing class.
Foot clinic.
Rheumatism and Nutrition clinics.
St. George's Hall, Shardeloes Road, S.E.4.
Infant Welfare and Ante-natal clinics.
St. Luke's Hall, Gosterwood Street, S.E.8.
Infant Welfare clinic.
Princess Louise Institute, Hales Street, S.E.8.
Infant Welfare Clinic.
St. John's Nurses, Watson Street, S.E.8.
Ante-natal clinic.
School Treatment Centre, Reginald Square.
Dental clinic.
Ophthalmic.
Special Aural and Minor Ailment clinics.
The County Council also maintain two Day Nurseries.
The nursery in Evelyn Street is a special prefabricated building with
60 places under normal conditions. A structural defect has caused a
portion of the nursery to be put temporarily out of use. The other nursery
is housed in the buildings of the New Cross General Hospital in Avonley
Road, and it provides places for 72 children. In both nurseries children
are accepted from a few weeks old up to 5 years of age.
The Health Centre at Amersham Road is also used as the Divisional
Sub-Office for the administration of the personal health services in the
Deptford area, including the offices for the Health Visitors and the
Organiser and staff dealing with the Domestic Help Service.
The headquarters of the Divisional Medical Officer are at St. Paul's
House, Deptford High Street.