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Borough's proposal to build a Health Centre on the site of the Woodstock Hotel, Highbury Grange, N.5. Two
more will take over specially adapted accommodation at Finsbury Health Centre early in 1970. These
schemes were the result of negotiations with the Department of Health and Social Security and the Inner
London Executive Council.
The Council was able to give the Family Planning Association use of one of the suites at Finsbury
Health Centre for clinic and office purposes, free of charge in respect of work done for Islington women.
Grant was paid to the Association, who share in the Borough's family planning service, and proposals to
extend this joint service were in hand at the end of the year.
The standard and extent of facilities for the day care of young children continued to receive close
attention. Plans for extending the day nursery provision went forward and the Government's Urban
Programme gave grants which enabled work to begin on two new nurseries in Lough Road, N.7 (due in
1970) and Parkhurst Road, N.19 (due in 1971). The Greater London Council commenced building a day
nursery for leasing by the Borough as part of a housing block in Bemerton Street, N.1. Assistance by
advice and grants was given to private persons and local associations for playgroups, towards which the
Urban Programme also contributed. Closer control was exercised over private child minders by the amended
Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, already mentioned. Closer control meant, however, that a
number of women ceased to be minders, and although this was often a good thing in stopping unsatisfactory
minding, it created the problem of a reduced supply for an increasing demand. The care of young
children, and of older children too, involved co-operation with a number of officers and organisations.
Special mention may be made of the joint arrangement with the Children's Officer and the National
Children's Home to take 20 places at the National Children's Home Family Centre, Legard Road, N.5, for
young families of inadequate mothers, where the latter may also receive social advice and health education
under group conditions.
The opportunity to provide a unique child welfare service was provided by the birth of quadruplets to
an Islington resident. Offers of help were made before the birth, and afterwards a full-time nursery nurse
and part-time home help were provided continuously. A further description appears later in my report.
Unfortunately, the publicity given in subsequent accounts in the Press minimised the help given by the
Borough.
The Five Year Capital Programme for the development of health service premises was reviewed and
agreed as follows:-
Health Centres
1. River Place, Essex Road, N.1.
2. Highbury Grange, N.5 (Woodstock Hotel Site).
Health Centre and Day Nursery
3. Goodinge Road, N.7.
Day Nurseries
4. Aubert Court Community Centre, N.5.
5. Lough Road, N.7.
6. Harvist Estate, N.7.
7. Alsen Road, N.7.
8. Parkhurst Road, N.7.
9. Elthorne Road, N.19.
10. South-east area.
Day Nursery and M.C.W. Centre
11. Girdlestone Road, N.19.
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