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III. PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES.
In consequence of the passing of the National Health Service Act 1946,
after a period of some 40-odd years the personal health services which had been
provided by the Metropolitan Borough Councils passed to the London County Council
on 9th July,1948. These services, in addition to some others, were transfered
back to the new borough councils,this time to the London Boroughs,on 1st April,
1965, as a result of the London Government Act 1963. The Council is now one of
174 local authorities in the country responsible for providing its own personal
health services.
Ante-and Post Natal Clinics.
Sessions are conducted in Council clinics by midwives and medical officers
for ante- and post-natal examinations. In addition seven general practitioners
undertook ante-natal work for their own patients in the Council's clinics which
are made available to them free of charge, and with a domiciliary midwife in
attendance. (Statistics on page 89).
Ante-Natal Mothercraft and Relaxation Classes
These classes are held by domiciliary midwives and health visitors in
Council clinics for both institutional and domiciliary booked cases. (Statistics
on page 89).
Adoption and Boarding-Out.
Children are medically examined by Health Department medical officers prior
to admission to children's homes or private foster homes on request from the
Children's Department. Reports are also made to the Children's Officer as
to the suitability of persons wishing to adopt or foster children. Advice is
provided to the Children's Officer on children being considered for adoption
or boarding out.
Chiropody.
By the appointed day arrangements had been made for this service to be
administered by the Health Department. Previously, three borough Old People's
Welfare Associations ran their own schemes with sessions at clubs, settlements
and in church halls. A service was also provided at clinics under the direction
of the local L. C.C. divisional health office. With the centralisation of the
service it was possible to plan a co-ordinated use of staff, and premises,
based wherever possible on the available local authority clinics. All existing
staff were taken into the new borough scheme without detriment to their
conditions of service and to date there has been no difficulty in maintaining
the level of work. Recruitment of professional staff, many on a part-time
basis, has been satisfactory. As a number of local chiropodists also take part
in the scheme, the provision of short term locums is comparatively easy.
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