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8
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting to you my annual report on the health of the
London Borough of Lambeth for the year 1971.
The year has brought a number of changes and has seen the responsibility
for several services including day nurseries, home help and mental health, pass
from my Directorate to the new Directorate of Social Services which had to be
set up by 1st April, 1971 under the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970.
The Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970 transferred responsibility for
junior training schools from 1st April to the Inner London Education Authority.
The home nursing service which, in the past, has been provided by the
Lambeth District Nursing Joint Committee on the Council's behalf, was operated
directly by the Health Directorate from 1st April, 1971. These changes required
a substantial reorganisation within the Directorate.
Expansion of family planning has continued in both clinic and domiciliary
services and a 75% grant under the Urban Aid Programme was approved by the
Home Office lor the cost of the expansion of this service. Towards the end of
1971 a working party was set up in the Borough to plan a completely free and
greatly expanded service to start in 1972 and to make arrangements for transferring
the service from the Family Planning Association to Council control.
Consideration is being given to the introduction of geriatric clinics as a
logical extension of general screening procedures for "at risk" groups of the
community and to the establishment of two pilot geriatric clinics under Section
12 of the Health Service and Public Health Act, 1968, subject to the approval
of the Department of Helath and Social Security. The main objective of the
clinics will be to prevent or retard deterioration to the health of the elderly, to
discover by simple procedures defects or deficiencies and to advise or refer for
treatment where necessary. It is hoped that the opening of two piiot clinics will
take place next year.
The planning of new buildings to replace unsatisfactory premises and for
the expansion and improvement of existing services has continued throughout the
year. The up-dated 5 year capital building programme includes plans for eight
health centres. A new purpose-built maternity and child health centre called
Belthorn and situated at Belthorn Crescent, off Weir Road, SW2, was due to be
opened this year but unfortunately the contractor engaged on the work went into
liquidation and, due to this and other difficulties, it will not be ready until
next year.