London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Lambeth 1966

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]

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10
Public Health Department,
Blue Star House,
234/244 Stockwell Road,
S.W.9.
Tel: 01-274 7722
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the London Borough of Lambeth
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting my report on the health of the London Borough
of Lambeth for the year 1966, the first full year of the Borough's existence. In my
report for 1965, I referred to the difficulties which had arisen as a result of the
subdivision of services formerly organised on a County-wide basis, and because
of the inclusion in Lambeth of a part of the metropolitan borough of Wandsworth,
which did not correspond with the areas for which the new services were designed.
While the planning of the development and improvement of services over the whole
borough has continued, particular attention has been paid to the provision of
junior training schools for mentally subnormal children and the provision of a
maternity and child welfare centre in the Streatham Hill area.
Because of the urgent need for accommodation for mentally subnormal children
for whom there was no provision within the Borough, a former primary school was
acquired for conversion for temporary use as a junior training school, pending the
provision of purpose-built premises. A second temporary school, also to be
replaced in due course, was also planned. Until these two schools become
available it will be necessary to continue to rely on places made available by
other boroughs in their training schools. To relieve the situation to some extent,
10 children are, by arrangement with the hospital authority, sent daily to the
training school at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton.
With regard to the provision of a maternity and child welfare centre and
health visitors' office in the Streatham Hill area, where the services were
seriously deficient, arrangement were made for the conversion of a house in
Kirkstall Road for temporary use.
The Ten Year Plan for the development of the health services which was
prepared in 1965 includes proposals for a second temporary junior training school
and a day nursery in the Brixton/Stockwell area where demand for this service is
greatest, and for replacement of day nurseries and welfare centres occupying
unsatisfactory accommodation.