View report page

possible to obtain central accommodation which could be made
available as an Area Health Office. The separation of members
of the staff in this way is unfortunate, and is a problem which we
hope will one day be solved. Clerks are also stationed at most of
the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres in the Area. This
arrangement facilitates the clerical work carried out at these
Centres.
The clerical staff employed in the Area consists of the
following:
1 Chief Clerk
1 Deputy Chief Clerk
2 APT. IV.
1 Higher Clerical Division
4 Clerical Division
20½ General Division
1 Telephonist.
The work is, to a certain extent sectionalised, although the
setting-up of watertight compartments has been carefully avoided.
Minor changes in the administrative pattern take place from time
to time, in the light of experience. During the year, five members
of the clerical staff resigned for various reasons, their places being
filled in each instance.
As the Committee will be aware, Mr. P. E. Barber, the Chief
Clerk, suffered a heart attack in November last. The Committee
will also be aware that Mr. Barber has not returned to work, but
has expressed his intention to retire. I should like to pay a sincere
tribute to Mr. Barber, who has been associated with me personally,
first as Chief Clerk in the Southgate Public Health Department and
later as Area Chief Clerk, for the past twenty-three years. No one
could have wished for a better or more zealous and conscientious
colleague, although we are extremely happy to have, in Mr. G. W.
Jones, a very worthy successor.
5. Ante-Natal, Post-Natal and Child Welfare Clinics
By the end: of 1953, Ante-natal Clinics, at which post-natal
cases also attended, were provided in eight premises throughout the
Area, approximately nine sessions being held every week, with an
average attendance of 14.
Both Health Visitors and Midwives attended these clinics,
acting under the direction of an Assistant Medical Officer. In
addition, one session was held each week in Southgate, at which
midwives only attended. The average attendance at this session
was nine.
During the year considerable extension of our Ante-natal
Relaxation Classes took place, so that, by the end of the year, each
45