View report page

56
Child health centres
The highlight of 1969 for staff working in the Tooting area was
undoubtedly the opening of the new centre in Bevill Allen Close.
This bright well-planned centre offers not only better facilities to
the public who use it, but provides the staff working there with an
opportunity to try out new ideas and further develop established
services. Photographs of the new centre will be found in the centre
pages of the report (Plates B and C).
On Tuesdays at the new centre "all-day" sessions are held in
the morning, afternoon, and evening when staff are available for
consultation. The evening sessions give mothers who are working
during the day a chance to avail themselves of the services provided
by the centre without losing time from work.
Mothers' clubs
Clubs are now held at three centres. They are run by the
mothers themselves and are less formal than classes, but nevertheless
offer good scope for health education. They offer too the means
of social contact which is so important to those mothers who have
recently moved into the area.
Toddlers' sessions
Sessions are now held at most centres and continue to be popular
with mothers, as they provide a valuable check on the health
and development of children from 2 to 4 years of age.
Toddlers sessions held during the year 278
Total attendances 3,022
Average attendance at each session 10.8
Dental service
A dental service for expectant and nursing mothers and for
young children is provided in conjunction with the school dental
service at certain of the Council's dental surgeries. During the
year there were 83 attendances by mothers and 446 by children
under five years of age.
Family planning
The family planning services in Wandsworth have expanded
during 1969 and the stage has now been reached where improvement
in the standard of the service is a main objective.
The South-West London Branch of the Family Planning Association,
who have their administrative headquarters in our new