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45
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The only changes in the Maternity and Child Welfare scheme,
which was outlined in previous annual reports, were those associated
with the extension of the scheme to include the Parish of Northolt
which, as already stated, was added to the Borough in October, 1928.
The changes are indicated in the recommendations contained
in the following report which was adopted by the Council:—
REPORT TO THE MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
COMMITTEE.
Extension of the Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme to the Northolt Area
When the area of Northolt is included in the Borough on the 1st
October it will be necessary to extend all the facilities of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Scheme to the mothers and children residing there.
At present the Middlesex County Council conduct a Centre on
Thursday afternoons at the Village Hall, which is let for the purpose
by the Village Hall Trustees. This place is not by any means ideal,
but with some improvements in the sanitary arrangements, furnishing
and decorations, it might serve the purpose until another more suitable
place is available.
The need for a new and complete Health Centre in Greenford is
becoming more pressing every day as the Temporary Centre at Aberdeen
House is proving too small to deal with the number of mothers attending.
Besides, the need for better and more accessible facilities for the medical
treatment of school children is getting more urgent because of the rapid
increase in the number of school children. A Health Centre, similar
to those at Mattock Lane and Cherington House, catering for school
children and for mothers and young children might, if transport facilities
become available, also serve, wholly or partly, the needs of Northolt.
I therefore recommend that steps be taken in conjunction with
the Education Committee, as has become an established practice, to
erect a Health Centre at Greenford. A site on Coston's Farm which
has recently been acquired by the Council, would be suitable for the
purpose.
It will be necessary to engage the part-time services of a medical
officer to attend the Northolt Centre on one session a week, and I
recommend that Dr. Frances Barry, who at present attends the Aberdeen
House Centre, be asked to take over this work on the usual terms of
£1 11s. 6d. per session, or £81 18s. Od. per annum.
The Health Visitors during the past two years have been working
at high pressure to overtake all the work in the Borough and it is now
absolutely essential to appoint another Health Visitor to cope with the
work. Miss Duggar would continue to take charge of the Aberdeen
House Centre and would take over the Northolt Temporary Centre
and the new Health Visitor would be attached to the Mattock Lane
Centre but would give assistance at any Centre requiring her services.
The appointment of an additional Health Visitor will mean an annual
expenditure of £200 a year as salary.