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The plan now submitted by the Engineer will, so far as I am able to foresee, meet the needs of
the Health Centre for some time to come.
(1) Nursery.
No nursery has ever been provided for this Centre and children coming with their mothers have
had to use a dressing room. The nursery now shown on the plan will be the existing artificial sunlight
room and will be in direct communication with the children's playground for use during the summer
weather.
(2) Minor Skin Conditions.
In his annual report for 1935 the Council's Dermatologist, Dr. Haldin-Davis, calls attention to
the fact that he has to refer a number of cases to various hospitals for treatment for quite minor
conditions such as warts on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands ; naevi, which are unsuitable
for treatment with carbon dioxide ; small tumours of the skin which require surgical treatment
such as can be carried out in an out-patient clinic and cases of chronic dermatitis or eczema for which
X-ray treatment is essential.
This work, as well as the existing work of the Dermatological department, namely, consultations
in respect of skin cases referred by the whole-time medical staff and artificial sunlight treatment, will be
carried on in the skin specialist's room and light room on the first floor of the plan now submitted.
(3) Throat, Nose and Ear Conditions.
The cases of enlarged tonsils and adenoids or deflected nasal septum which have been operated
upon at the Willesden General Hospital have not hitherto received the subsequent instruction and
training in breathing so necessary for a complete remedy. This is due to the fact that at none of the
Centres of the Authority is there any room or staff available for this purpose.
In addition there are throat, nose and ear cases, e.g., chronic discharging ears, chronic catarrh,
etc., requiring special treatment not now given at the Health Centres. It is proposed that the Throat,
Nose and Ear Specialist recently appointed, should be required to attend the extended Health Centre
weekly, not only for the purpose of carrying out his existing work, namely, the passing of cases for
operation, but also to examine and deal with the cases which have been operated on by him at the
Municipal Hospital. He would also be required to examine other throat, nose and ear cases referred
to him and to give directions as to the best methods of dealing with them.
It is proposed that this work be carried out in the room marked " Squint Clinic—Throat, Nose
and Ear Clinic."
(4) Squint Clinic.
A number of cases of squint of children under five years and of school children attend the
Health Centres. The present treatment at the Health Centres is usually by the provision of glasses
which aims at achieving (1) maximum visual acuity in each eye and (2) parallel visual axis (that is, so
that the squint is not apparent). There is no means whereby the correct use of both eyes at the one
time can be developed so that binocular vision is secured. This requires training of the patient so that
the visual acuity of the squinting eye may be increased. For this purpose a certain amount
of apparatus and usually some 15 to 20 attendances on the part of each patient for 20-minute lessons
about twice a week are required. It is proposed that this work should be carried out in the room
marked " Squint Clinic—Throat, Nose and Ear Clinic."
(5) Ante-natal Arrangements.
The ante-natal arrangements at this Centre have never been quite satisfactory and they are
beccming less and less satisfactory as the attendances increase. Ante-natal attendances at this
Centre have been as follows in the years since the Centre was opened :—
1930 (8 months) 1,241
1931 1,843
1932 2,145
1933 2,384
1934 2,888
1935 4,128
The result of this increase is that nearly on every occasion of an ante-natal clinic expectant mothers
have to wait on a form in the corridor. It is also difficult to secure suitable privacy for dressing and
undressing, while no w.c. is available in this room as required.
The plan shows an extension of the existing ante-natal room which will be properly fitted
with curtains for the comfort and seclusion of undressing patients and with a w.c. This is shown in
the room marked " Ante-natal Preparation Room."
(6) Pharmacy.
This work is at present accomplished by the Pharmacist attending on certain days of the week
and making up stock prescriptions which, together with dried foods, are given out by a clerk who sits
in the dispensary during clinic hours. Special prescriptions required have got to be specially arranged
for. The increased work at the clinic would require an assistant pharmacist to be in attendance.