View report page

The position is vastly different to-dry but cannot be presented
in figures because the Sanitary Inspectors are not keeping records
of overcrowding as was done continuously in accordance with the
requirements of the Housing Act, 1936. We know from the Officers of
the Department - Sanitary Inspectors, Health Visitors, School Nurses,
Midlives - that overcrowding is serious and becoming more so. We
also know that there are some 5,800 applicants for house accommodation.
In addition to this unhappy position is the fact that restrictions
in the use of materials and labour to Carry out necessary maintenance
repairs is resulting in a lower standard of cleanliness and sanitation
of existing accommodation.
B) Personal Preventive Health Services.
The National Health Service Bill which is likely to become "The
National Health Service Act, 1946", is concerned chiefly with the
provision of a complete Hospital Service under Regional Boards and a
Medical Practitioner and Specialist Service for every citizen in his own
home or at proposed "Health Centres".
It would be a contribution to accurate thinking if these were referred
to as "Hospital and Medical Services" and the phrase "Personal
Preventive Health Services" confined to the work which the present Local
Authorities have built up since 1900 for mothers and children under the
age of five, and since 1907 for school children under Maternity and
Child Welfare and Education Committees respectively.
The Personal Preventive Health Services arc carried out at the Council's
four Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, at the School Clinic, in the
School, at the Maternity Home, at five Day Nurseries and in the homes
of the people by Sanitary Inspectors, Health Visitors, School Nurses and
Midwives. The work of the Council's whole-time and part-time Medical
Officers and Specialists deals chiefly with healthy people and the aim
is to maintain their health and so enable them to achieve full mental
and physical development, and, incidentally, to relieve the burden on the
"Hospital and Medical Services".
Future Developments in Personal Preventive Health Services.
A summary of the further developments in providing better health
services approved by the Council and writing only for the necessary
sanctions to the use of materials, labour and staff, are-
1) Extension of the Town Hall Centre.N.8. with a view specially to the
provision of a better ante-nata1 service.
2) Completion of the conversion of Burgoyne Hall.N.4.
3) A new Centre in Highgate to replace the Centre at Church Road.N.6.
4) A new Centre at Fortis Green.N.l0. The conversion of the Electricity
Showrooms has been completed and was opened on 29th April, 1946. It
is hoped that the Electricity undertaking may soon be in a position
to offer more accommodation in this building.
6