View report page

HEALTH CENTRES
Section 21 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, requires local health
authorities to provide, equip and maintain health centres.
Although at present there are no health centres in the borough, Ministry
approval to provide one in Hertford Road was received in 1967; the background
information for a second one in the Old Road Redevelopment area has been
forwarded to the Department of Health and Social Security requesting approval in
principle; and five others are included in the current ten year development plan.
Preparatory planning in connection with the Hertford Road Health Centre
continued in 1968 with a view to the commencement of building early in 1969.
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 742 women attended the ante-natal clinics and 417 attended for a
post-natal examination. Many women attend their family doctor or hospital for
their post-natal examination. The trend for expectant mothers to be cared for by
the general practitioner and hospital services continues. In August, a domiciliary
midwife was attached to group practice with a busy ante-natal clinic. This arrangement
has been welcomed both by the general practitioners and the midwife, and
it is hoped to make further attachments to group practices in 1969.
Mothercraft and relaxation classes for expectant mothers, held in clinics
throughout the borough, were attended by 616 women. These classes continue to
be popular and many of the general practitioners who undertake the ante-natal care
of their patients still refer their patients to the clinics for relaxation classes.
Child Health Sessions
The 2,082 sessions held during the year were attended by 13,483 children. The
total number of attendances was 91,335 compared with 97,199 last year.
During 1968 the scheme was continued whereby at the age of three months,
seven months, one year, eighteen months, two, three and four years, each child
in the borough is invited to attend a clinic for the purposes of medical examination
and for immunisation and vaccination if arrangements are not being made through
the family doctor. In this way it is hoped to achieve regular supervision of the
health of the child as well as routine immunisation.
23