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Health and Welfare Department,
London Borough of Barnet,
Gateway House,
322 Regents Park Road,
Finchley, N.3,
The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Council of the London Borough of Barnet.
It is with pleasure, though somewhat belatedly, that I present my Report on the
Health and Welfare services of the Borough for the year 1970.
With the introduction of the Social Services Act 1970 effective from the 1st April,
1971, the year proved to be one of considerable involvements, not the least of which was
that of considering staff who would be transferred by reason of the work undertaken by
them to the new Social Services Directorate. With a combined Health and Welfare Department
which saw the integration of Health and Welfare services under a common executive
and management structure, the assimilation of fragmented posts presented many problems
for the future Health administration.
The organisation of the Department since April 1965 had, I think, proved an
efficient and economical one and the services being provided were, having regard to the
availability of resources, able to meet the major needs of the community. The developments
planned and which had been approved by the Council for Health and Welfare projects were far
seeing and formed the nucleus of a realistic service provision in the years to come. For this
reason the new Social Services Directorate would have a solid basis of developments on which
to build their future structure.
Examples of projects commenced under Health and Welfare were the Old People's
Homes to be built at Perryfields, West Hendon, Brunswick Park, New Barnet and Grahame
Park. In addition, the planning of a Day Centre for the elderly mentally infirm at Meadowside
had been approved in principle and a 60 place workshop for the mentally handicapped was to
proceed at Broadfield Estate, Edgware, plus a 150 place adult training centre, a Hostel for
the mentally handicapped, and later a day centre for elderly mentally infirm. Other projects
for development within the years immediately following 1970 were an Old People's Home at
Vale Farm and a Hostel for elderly mentally infirm at Brunswick Park Road, East Barnet.
Additional projects planned for Grahame Park were a Welfare Centre for the physically
handicapped, etc., and a 60 place Day Nursery.
Many other schemes for development of the welfare and mental health services were
forecast and though, in some instances, the sites could not be firmly determined, much
progress had been made at various levels to further the projects ultimately becoming
viable schemes.
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