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76
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres
The local welfare centres are the focal points to which members of the community come
for information and help. At all centres health visitors are available for some part of each
day, to those who wish to see them, as well as attending clinic sessions. Records kept during
a typical week in November 1967 showed that there were 126 callers at welfare centres, other
than those who attended for clinic sessions.
One of the main aims of the work carried out at welfare centres is to safeguard the
health of the expectant mother because on her health depends, in a large measure, the wellbeing
of her baby, and to supervise the health of the baby during infancy and early childhood.
Particular attention is paid by medical officers and health visitors to the diagnosis of
abnormalities in the early months and years of life, (see below on handicap and observation
register).
In November 1967 Circular 23/67 was received from the Ministry of Health. This drew
attention to the particular importance of welfare foods to mothers and young children
particularly those in the lowest income groups. Field staff were accordingly instructed to
advise families who were eligible for free supplies.
Further steps were taken to decentralise the work of home visitors to the elderly. By
the end of the year, four home visitors were based at three welfare centres.
The number of occasional creche sessions was increased during the year and sessions
held at 7 centres. The children of women attending clinic activities are admitted free of
charge, as are the children of women who have appointments at hospitals.
Two new establishments were opened during the year.
Blythe Mansions
The voluntary committee responsible for the organisation of North Islington Welfare
Centre also ran a sub-centre in the community centre Blythe Mansions, Highcroft Road, N.19.
Soon after the formation of the Borough it was realised that there was scope for increasing
the use made of this centre. It is well sited in the North East of the Borough near a new
development in Hornsey Lane. The voluntary committee agreed to the services being taken over
by the Borough. Various adaptations were made and on 13th March, the premises were re-opened
as a full-scale centre providing the complete range of maternity and child welfare services.
A most successful open day was held on 19th April which was attended by the Chairman of the
Personal Health Committee and other members of the Council. This centre undoubtedly fulfills
a need and provides local services in a densely populated area.
Isledon Road Sub-Centre
Towards the end of 1966 the Personal Health Committee decided that it would be desirable
to open a sub-centre to East Islington Welfare Centre to cover the area south of Seven Sisters
Road. Suitable premises were found in the Civil Defence Centre in Isledon Road. The subcentre
was opened in April 1967 with 2 infant welfare sessions a week (with vaccination and
immunisation for children under 5) and a monthly toddlers session. In September two
occasional creche sessions were started to coincide with the infant welfare sessions. An
"At Home" at the Centre was held on 1st May.