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14
margin of reserve. The child help service being provided as a specialised
part of the home help service has proved to be of value in cases
of parental misfortune or inadequacy and to the Children's Department
in keeping children out of care and within their own homes.
The arrangements for the examination of well women at the
cervical cytology clinics have continued and our teams are available
to go into any factory employing female labour where adequate
clinic facilities exist. There has been a slackening of demand for this
service and efforts must be pursued to encourage women regularly
to seek this simple examination as a precautionary measure. Next
year a breast examination will also be undertaken at these clinics.
A report on the chiropody services is included and it is commendable
that the Council's Chief Chiropodist manages to keep a good
service going despite his staffing difficulties.
A section of this report is also devoted to the activities of the
health education section, which has shown great initiative and
enthusiasm.
Dr. Boyd, Consultant Geriatrician at the Greenwich District
Hospital, has joined the staff on a part-time basis and his advice and
guidance, as well as his hospital resources, are proving of great value.
There is now a free exchange of patients between hospital and old
people's homes, which is of great benefit to the old people who are
now receiving care more appropriate to their needs. This year
geriatric advisory clinics were established where any old person not
apparently suffering from any recognisable illness can seek a medical
interview to discuss health and social problems with a doctor in a
more leisurely atmosphere than would be possible in a busy general
surgery.
Plans for the expansion of the community mental health services
have almost reached fruition, but have been hampered a little by
credit restrictions. Federation Hall in Abbey Wood will serve as a
combined day centre meeting the needs of the mentally ill, the
physically handicapped and elderly, some of whom may be showing
the mental and physical frailties of ageing. The hostel for the
mentally ill at St. John's Park awaits loan sanction for adaptation
and equipping but in the meantime is being used as an occupation
centre and for diversional therapy. Building work on the hostel for
mentally handicapped children at Ashburnham Grove has started
and this will be ready for occupation next year. The provision of a
child guidance clinic continues to prove an almost intractable
problem, due entirely to the impossibility of recruiting a child
psychiatrist. The development of the junior centre at Maze Hill has
been a source of great pride and I hope it will be possible for the
Council to duplicate this educational facility in the eastern part of
the Borough.