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and planning permissions to build new premises were not forthcoming. As a result,
many services during 1965 had to be continued in church halls and out-of-date
premises. These situations caused great strain on the professional staff, particularly
at training centres for subnormal children and at day nurseries. I wish to place
on record the admirable work of the supervisors and matrons who had to overcome
so many difficulties especially after week-end break-ins by young vandals.
Adult subnormal men and women and many of the junior subnormal boys
and girls, attended training centres in other boroughs; on the other hand, many
of the junior subnormal boys and girls from the London Borough of Lambeth
attended the training centres in this Borough. By the end of the year, urgent
arrangements were made for all Southwark children and adults to be trained in
centres within the Borough.
As mentioned above, the full implications could not be appreciated before
31st December, 1965 but, in general, the following projects were to be given
priority, subject to Ministry of Health approval in the case of purpose-built
establishments.
Replacement of four day nurseries by purpose-built premises.
Small special care units for mentally subnormal children under five years of
age.
Day rehabilitation centre in the southern part of the Borough.
Purpose-built junior training centre.
Purpose-built adult training centre, hostel and day centre.
Health centre and day nursery in each of two development areas.
The following services were to be expanded as soon as possible:
Care of babies born at risk and handicapped children.
Community care in general.
Early discharge of maternity cases.
School dental service.
Liaison with local hospitals, consultants and general practitioners.
Transport for chiropody cases and the mentally handicapped.
Attachment of health visitors to general practitioners' surgeries.
Family planning.
Loan of equipment in general and for home nursing cases in particular.
Vaccination and immunisation programme.
Unfortunately, recruitment of experienced professional and administrative staff
continued to be most difficult and, on occasions, only urgent work could be dealt
with. The environmental health service suffered severely and was approximately 40%
understrength for nearly all of the period under review.
The area of the London Borough of Southwark has been referred to as an
"at risk area" from the health point of view; it was obvious that expansion of
services would be essential but without more experienced staff in all fields, during
1966 and subsequent years, the five-year plan for the Health Department would be
moribund.
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