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22
Child Health Centres
The demand for this service which combines the education of parents,
developmental assessment and immunisation of children has again fallen
this year. On the other hand the number of children attending Well Baby
clinics run by general practitioners and health visitors has increased, so
that the total number of children using the service has increased overall.
For detailed figures see Appendix page 99.
Welfare Foods and Medicaments
From the 4th April, 1971 the provision of cheap National Dried Milk
for children ceased andthe price per carton is now 20p. instead of 12½p.
This increase in price has resulted in a large decrease in sales of
National Dried Milk during 1971.
Cod Liver Oil was discontinued and was replaced by Vitamin A.D. & C
Drops which were available from the 24th May 1971. The cost of these new
Drops is 5p. per bottle, each bottle contains sufficient drops for seven
weeks.
For detailed figures see Appendix, page 95.
HEALTH CENTRES
The adaptations to the existing Child and School Health Clinic at New
Addington were completed and the building opened as a Health Centre in
October. It provided 6 surgeries for general practitioners in addition to
accommodation for local authority and hospital staff. The treatment room
was kept open throughout the day by local authority nurses so that it served
as a minor casualty unit for this outlying housing estate. No major difficulties
arose and the first health centre in Croydon was an encouraging start
for this type of unified service.
The site for the South Norwood building was acquired and detailed
plans agreed with the general practitioners. It is contemplated that building
will begin in 1972.
The negotiations for a Centre in Coulsdon broke down with the retirement
from practice in the area of two general practitioners mainly concerned.
No other group of doctors in Croydon came forward during the year despite
an offer of the Health Committee to consider sympathetically requests for
health centre facilities.