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(4) Dental Treatment.
At present the School Dental Officers devote two sessions per
week to the inspection and treatment of expectant and nursing
mothers, and children under 5 years of age. Another session per
week will be required in the next financial year.
(5) Treatment by Artificial Sunlight.
In the new Health Centre at Oak Lane it is proposed to establish
a clinic for artificial sunlight treatment of children who would benefit
by this form of therapy. Such treatment would occupy the time of a
nurse for 2-3 half-days per week
(6) Health Education.
Owing to lack of staff too little has been done in the way of
talks and demonstrations to the mothers at the Centres, a form of
health education which I think is very valuable. This is suitable work
for a Health Visitor.
(7) Provision of a Centre in the Hampstead Garden Suburb.
A fair number of mothers from the Hampstead Garden Suburb
take their children to the Centre at Oak Lane. The distances from
most parts of the Suburb to this Centre are very considerable and I
am convinced that there is a need for a more accessible Centre, say
in the vicinity of Ossulton Way.
(8) Medical Staff.
When the Assistant Medical Officer was appointed in 1932 she
devoted two-thirds of her time to Maternity and Child Welfare and
one-third to School Medical Work, but now she is actually giving
four-fifths to the former and one-fifth to the latter. Also during the
past year or two more time has been taken up by immunisation and
the administration of anaesthetics at the Dental Clinics, with the
result that we are finding it difficult to cope with the work.
(9) Suggestions.
I recommend that your Sub-Committee should give consideration
to the following suggestions:-
(i) That the Hendon Borough Council be requested to make
provision, as soon as possible, for the Hendon children who
are now attending the Finchley Centres.
(ii) That as from the 1st April, 1938, a part-time Assistant
Medical Officer be appointed for Maternity and Child Welfare
work for 2 sessions per week at 1½ guineas per sessionthe
cost for the next financial year would be £164.
(iii) That as from the 1st April, 1938, an extra session be devoted
to the dental treatment of Maternity and Child Welfare cases
at an approximate cost of £85 per annum (a corresponding
amount would be saved by the Education Committee).
(iv) That immediate steps be taken for the provision of a small
Infant Welfare Centre in the vicinity of Ossulton Way to
serve the southern part of the Borough.
(v) That as from the 1st October, 1938, an additional Health
Visitor be appointed for Maternity and Child Welfare work
only. The approximate cost in the next financial year
would be £100.
A. TURNER,
Medical Officer of Health.
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