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132
the combined maternity and child welfare and school treatment centre in East India
Dock Road.
School
treatment
centres
Towards the end of the year the work of adapting a self-contained suite of
rooms in the Mary Hughes Building, Underwood Road, as a school treatment centre
was completed. This was designed to replace the Whitechapel school treatment
centre which had suffered many vicissitudes since its premises were demolished by
enemy action in 1941, but which had continued to function in temporary accommodation.
The new centre was formally opened on 20th November, and was renamed
"The Ida Samuel School Treatment Centre "as a memorial to the late Miss Ida
Samuel, who founded the original centre in 1917 and acted as hon. secretary of its
voluntary committee throughout. The rheumatism and nutrition sessions which
had been held temporarily at the Rochelle Street centre were transferred to the
new centre.
Premises
From time to time the Divisional Health Committee have been concerned about
burglaries at various clinics and day-nurseries. These unlawful entries have
not usually involved serious loss, but the places are left in disorder, and many small
articles, often including staff property, have been taken. During the year, therefore,
a comprehensive survey of all clinic buildings and day nurseries was undertaken,
and measures instituted, depending upon local circumstances, to make these premises
more burglar-proof than hitherto; so far, at any rate, with some apparent success.
Nursery
classes
The programme for redecoration of premises continued steadily throughout the
year, and by the end of 1950 we were within sight of its completion.
As an ancillary to day nurseries, it is interesting to note that during the year
five new nursery classes have been opened by the Education department; this
brings the total of nursery classes attached to primary schools in this division to 23.
Division 6, comprising the boroughs of Deptford, Greenwich and Woolwich.
Dr. F. R. Waldron reports:—
Economic circumstances have not choked all progress, as the following brief
references to developments indicate.
The site of 41, Fairfield Grove, Charlton, adjoining Fairfield House maternity
and child welfare centre, was purchased with the object of eventually developing
the whole site for comprehensive health services.
New centres
for integrated
child
welfare
services
In place of rented accommodation in a borough council house and sports
pavilion, a large detached property known as Rusthall Lodge, Eltham, was brought
into use progressively so as to provide the following services:—ante-natal clinic,
ante-natal and post-natal exercise class, infant welfare clinic, light treatment and
exercise classes for pre-school children; minor ailments, dental, vision, rheumatism
and nutrition clinics, and speech therapy classes. In addition accommodation was
provided for the home help organiser for the Eltham area.
In smaller ways also the ideal of treating child health as a whole has been
fostered. Nutrition clinics for school children were introduced into Amersham Road
and Chevening Road welfare centres. Light treatment clinics at infant welfare
centres were made available to school children referred by school doctors.
Maternity
and child
welfare
Increasing attendances made necessary four additional infant welfare or toddlers
sessions at various centres.
Ante-natal and post-natal exercise classes taken by physiotherapists or health
visitors were introduced at four centres.
Prophylaxis
In place of separate sessions for smallpox vaccination and immunisation against
diphtheria and whooping cough, combined sessions were provided. Economy to
the extent of eleven sessions a month resulted from this arrangement.
The incidence of poliomyelitis in 1950 was greater in this division than in other
parts of the County and the following precautionary measures were "taken at the
Council's clinics, viz., diphtheria immunisation by sub-cutaneous administration of