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112
The original plans and specifications allowed for the footings and
ground floor walls to be built of such strength as to permit of the erection
of a first floor at a future date.
At the end of September, 1936, a communication was received from
the Medical Officer of Health of the London County Council stating that
although in 1934 it was not thought desirable to provide further facilities
for medical and dental treatment of school children in the district, the
whole position had recently been altered owing to the premises now
occupied by the School Treatment Centre in Monteith Road being required
for educational purposes by 31st March, 1937. He therefore desired to
know whether it was still possible to plan the proposed new Maternity
and Child Welfare Clinic building at Old Ford so as to provide accommodation
for a treatment centre, eye (refraction), dental and minor
ailments, on the first floor.
Plans for a proposed lay-out of the first floor were prepared by the
Borough Surveyor's Department and discussed with a representative of the
County Medical Officer of Health. At the beginning of October the County
Medical Officer of Health wrote to the Town Clerk enquiring whether
the Borough Council would give the necessary facilities, provided satisfactory
arrangements could be made as to the payments to be made by
the County Council to the Borough Council, and suggested that an
inclusive figure should be arrived at later covering rent, rates, cleaning
and heating.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee agreed to alter the
present plans in order to afford the necessary facilities required by the
London County Council, subject to satisfactory financial arrangements,
and that in view of the first floor accommodation being required as soon
as possible after 31st March, 1937, and the Housing Committee asked to
rehouse the persons occupying the site as speedily as possible in order
that the erection of the Clinic might be put in hand. At the end of the
year the matter was still in abeyance, but in April, 1937, a satisfactory
arrangement regarding payment was arrived at, and we hope the building
will be proceeded with in the next few months.
Miss J. M. Cardozo, Chief Health Visitor, reports as follows:—
Home Visiting. (See Table, page 116.)
This most important part of the work is still complicated by the
large number of inward transfers. The importance of obtaining the
goodwill and co-operation cf the mother cannot be over-estimated, and
to obtain this many visits are necessary to these new families, especially