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DIVISION 2, comprising the boroughs of Hampstead, Paddington, St. Marylebonc,
St. Pancras and the City of Westminster
Dr. H. L. Oldershaw reports:
Maternity and child welfare—An increase of 467 in the number of births taking place in
the division compared with 1959 was a factor in the higher attendances at the ante.natal
clinics and the increase in the home visiting carried out by the health visitors in 1960.
In January a purpose.built welfare centre opened on the ground floor of a borough
council block of flats at St. Alban's Road, St. Pancras. This centre replaces the South
Highgate welfare centre formerly held at the Highgate New Town Clinic, Chester Road,
St. Pancras. The Divisional Health Committee authorised the provision of facilities at this
centre for the educational activities of the South Highgate Parents' Club.
Creches—As a result of a review of the occasional creches provided at a number of welfare
centres, authority was given to increase the number of sessions from 16 to 23 a week. By
the end of the year 20 were being held, one additional session having been closed through
lack of demand, and two others had not yet begun because of lack of suitable staff.
Day nurseries—The total provision remained almost unchanged and the service was
again marked by high occupation of the places available. The table of divisional statistics
gives details of child minding, but it should be noted that there has been an increase in the
number of premises registered under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act,
1948, from 22 in 1959 (471 places) to 26 in 1960 (641 places). These establishments involve
regular visitation by the Council's medical staff and lengthy statutory procedures between
the Divisional Health Committee and the applicants. During the year the committee dealt
with fourteen separate reports affecting persons and premises registered in accordance with
this legislation and made orders imposing or varying requirements in each case.
Prophylaxis—The process of integrating the work of inoculating young children against
poliomyelitis with the routine already established at the maternity and child welfare
centres for general vaccination and immunisation developed during the year. Nevertheless,
attendances justified continuation of the special ' open ' poliomyelitis vaccination clinics
for persons of all eligible age categories to attend without prior appointment. Systematic
follow.up, by postcards, of persons due for repeat injections has also been undertaken
with a degree of success.
In the autumn additional facilities were made for vaccination against smallpox at
Alhambra House, Charing Cross Road, and Bessborough Street welfare centre, in collaboration
with the Public Health department of Westminster City Council, following the
diagnosis of the disease in a Westminster resident newly arrived from the Far East.
School health service—The radical improvement over the years in the general well.being
and cleanliness of children has made possible further reduction of facilities for cleansing
verminous children. The cleansing station at 12 Maida Avenue, W.2, closed at the end of
1959 and the use of the borough council bathing station at Lithos Road, Hampstead, was
discontinued in March, 1960. A school nursing sister was withdrawn from stand.by duty
at the St. Pancras bathing centre.
Chiropody—Local authority foot clinics have not in the past been provided on a large
scale in the boroughs forming the division, the bulk of chiropody work for the elderly
being conducted by the Old People's Welfare Associations. An expansion of the Council's
service from seven to 25 sessions a week, authorised to take place in 1960, developed as
quickly as the availability of suitable staff permitted. At the end of the year, at five
different centres, 21 sessions were being held and attendances had improved to an average
of 6.3 per session.
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