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6
Health Centres
The planning of the South Norwood Health Centre reached the stage of
acceptance of a tender, and it was hoped that the building would be completed
by mid-1973. This project has unfortunately progressed very slowly,
but there have been advantages that delays have allowed the new guide
lines of the Department of Health to be used. Experience at the Parkway
Health Centre has shown that previous standards did not allow sufficient
accommodation for certain essential functions, to the discomfort of both
patients and staff using the building. Plans for South Norwood were redrawn
to correct this defect.
Community Nursing Care
The Director of Nursing details the important changes due to national
and international events, which influenced the administration of these
services during the year under review. They were not allowed to disturb
the advice and care given by the staff to members of the public, nor significant
developments to improve the facilities which could be offered.
Despite a vigorous training programme the recruitment and retention of
Health Visitors remained an unsolved problem, and the target of complete
integration with general medical practice could not be achieved.
Care of Pre-School Children
The early detection and correction of inborn defects has of recent
years been an increasing responsibility of the Child Health Service.
Departmental Medical Officers have been seconded to attend special
courses in developmental paediatrics, which included for one member of
the staff whole-time attendance for an academic year at the Institute of
Child Health in London. The Paediatric Department at Mayday Hospital
received a special grant from the Regional Hospital Board to build an
Assessment Unit for early diagnosis, observation and treatment of handicapped
children. The Health Department have co-operated in its design,
and a joint appointment agreed forthe Departmental Medical Officer
with special training in this subject.
Health Education
There was some easing of the difficulties to recruit Health Education
Officers, which has continuously curtailed the full development of this
service, but this did not extend to the supporting ancilliary and clerical
staff. Nevertheless the Principal Health Education Officer is able to
report on a year of further progress.
Family Planning
The Corporation agreed to increase their reimbursement of charges to
the Family Planning Association as from April 1st 1972 to include free