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The provision of another two health centres is proposed in the Council's TenYear
Plan but there may well be others in view of recent developments.
Throughout the country only 21 health centres were built between 1948 and
1964. In making this statement recently, the Minister of Health referred to the
present surge of interest in the provision of health centres as revealed in the revised
plans of local authorities for the development of the health and welfare services
during the next ten years. He spoke, also, of the growing readiness of the family
doctor and the local health services to work together to their mutual advantage
and for the benefit of the community
Despite the requirements of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
Circular 42/66, which, in connection with the Government's economy drive, imposed
cuts on projects which, though desirable, are not essential to the development
of the economy or the fulfilment of the Government's priority programmes, no
applications for loan sanction in respect of health centres have been deferred. It
would appear, therefore, that the Hertford Road project will not be adversely
affected and that, as mentioned above, 1969 may well see the opening of the
Borough's first health centre.
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Under Section 22 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the duty of
every local health authority to make arrangements for the care, including in particular
dental care, of expectant and nursing mothers and of children who have not
attained the age of five years and are not attending primary schools maintained by
a local education authority.
Ante-natal and Post-natal Sessions
A total of 1,024 women attended the ante-natal clinics during the year and 471
attended for a post-natal examination. Many women attend their family doctor or
hospital for their post-natal examination. The slight drop in numbers compared
with the previous year reflects the continuing tendency for general practitioners to
undertake the care of expectant mothers in their own surgeries.
Mothercraft and relaxation classes for expectant mothers, held in clinics
throughout the Borough, were attended by 747 women. These classes continue to
be popular and many of the general practitioners who undertake the ante-natal
care of their patients themselves, still refer their patients to the clinics for relaxation
classes.
Child Welfare Sessions
The 2,046 sessions during the year were attended by 12,247 children. The
total number of attendances was 101,925. At two existing clinics an extra session
per week was started and at the new clinic in Hadley Wood opened in January, 1966,
one child welfare session a week was held instead of once a fortnight in the rented
premises previously used. In contrast with the ante-natal sessions, the child welfare
sessions showed an increase in the number of attendances.
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