View report page

52
the dental clinic, and it is unlikely that this will be exceeded. The appointments
of the various assistants, I suggest, should be entirely temporary, and if in fact any
notice is necessary it should not be longer than one month. This more particularly
in the case of the doctors, for the reason that, I suggest, there should be no delay
in appointing a whole-time maternity and child welfare medical officer. Actually
I believe by making such an appointment there may be a certain saving; in any
case, however, there would be greater convenience and readier supervision and
control. Moreover, there would be the advantage of having the person who would
be responsible for the operation of the revised scheme concerned in its preparation
and initiation."
''The services of the part-time health visitors it might be convenient to retain
for some time; even so, however, their engagement should be on a temporary basis
and subject to one month's notice. Such an arrangement would I feel sure be
satisfactory to the workers. It would no doubt be acceptable to the Health Society
also, who would like to feel that the transference of their activities to the Council
did not mean hardship for workers who had given valuable service to the maternity
and child welfare scheme as operated by them. The decision of the Society so far
as the giving up of the work is concerned has been conveyed to all their paid
workers, and they have been given notice that their services will not be required by
the Society after 31st March, 1935."
"What I suggest is: that as from the 1st April, 1935, the work be allowed to
continue as before; that the voluntary workers be thanked for the splendid work
they have done in the past and that the hope be expressed that they will continue
to assist; that the paid workers be engaged by the Council on the terms already
indicated and that in fact the Council take over from the Health Society everything,
including furniture, fittings, etc., of clinics and all liabilities, everything, in
short, except the day nurseries, as a going concern and work the scheme on the
same lines as at present until the full-time maternity and child welfare officer
already referred to has been appointed. When the time arrives that the Society
feel they are in a position to proceed with the day nursery building in Salisbury
Street, no doubt they will allow time for the Council to vacate the premises and find
other quarters. These quarters, the Committee may decide, following investigation
and report, should be found partly at 113, Marylebone Road and partly at 24,
Hill Road. If the period allowed is sufficiently long (which is unlikely) the new
welfare centre for North Marylebone to which reference has already been made
may be available."
The Future—Maternity and Child Welfare Centres.
" (a) North Marylebone.—As was noted at the meeting of the Committee on
the 19th December, 1934, when the question of capital expenditure was under consideration,
the finding of a site for a centre north of Marylebone Road is no easy
matter. It is particularly difficult since it is essential that the premises should be
located somewhere in the block formed by Grove Road, Edgware Road, St. John's
Wood Road and North Street, and should front one or other of these thoroughfares.
Having regard to the fact that provision will have to be made for accommodating
certain of the school clinics of the London County Council—the dental
clinic and the minor ailment treatment centre—the site will have to be adequate in
size. So far as can be made out, in order to obtain what is required it will be
necessary (1) to try to secure a piece of the land of the London Power Company
fronting on Grove Road and lying between the canal and Lodge Road, or (2) to
make use of the site, No. 27, Grove Road, now occupied by the Cleansing Station
and shelter, or (3) to try to arrange with the London County Council for accommodation
or space in or in connection with the housing schemes in North Street or
Richmond Street."
" In a general way it may be said that, provided constructional difficulties can
be overcome, site (2)—27, Grove Road, has most to recommend it. In the first
place though there may be necessity for obtaining concessions from the Grand
Union Canal, the site belongs to the Council. Further it has a frontage to Grove
Road and properly developed it can. be made to provide, in addition to all the
accommodation for welfare and public health committee purposes, an increased
amount of storage space for the Works Department of the Council."