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least one in which it is intended that help should be provided for short
periods only, an increasing proportion of the time of home helps is being
given to long term, including tuberculosis, cases.
The average number of home helps was 3 full-time and 44.5 parttime,
being an equivalent of 31 full-time helps. They gave help in 974
households. In 265 of these the patient helped was a maternity case, in
41 was one suffering from tuberculosis, in 412 was one suffering from
an acute condition and in 256 was a long term case.
GENERAL MEDICAL SERVICES
The number of general medical practitioners whose practice extends
to the Borough of Harrow is learned of from notifications of infectious
diseases or of births. This number of 157 includes some who live outside
the district though visiting homes in this area and in some cases having
surgeries here. According to the return of the Middlesex Executive
Council in February, 1954, 130 doctors were taking part in Harrow in
the general medical service under the National Health Service Act. 88
of these also take part in the maternity services provided under the Act.
An indication of the distribution of general medical practitioners
throughout the district is obtained from the statistical review of the
Middlesex Executive Council for the year ended 31st March, 1956. Areas
are classified as "restricted," "intermediate" and "designated." The
restricted areas are those in which the Medical Practices Committee has
decided that the number of doctors practising is adequate. Normally
applications to start new practices in those areas will not be granted.
Designated areas are those in which there is a smaller proportion of
practising doctors. Admission to the list to practice in intermediate areas
is decided in the light of medical manpower and other circumstances
prevailing at the time of application. On the 16th July, 1956, the combined
wards of Roxbourne and Roxeth were classed as designated areas;
Pinner South ward was designated a restricted area. The remaining
wards in the district were classed as intermediate areas.
DAY NURSERIES, ETC.
The same two day nurseries provided for the admission of children
whose mothers needed to go out to work, Headstone Drive Nursery
with its 50 places, and the Walton Avenue, South Harrow, Nursery with
its 60. All through the years since the Headstone Drive Nursery was
first opened, it had been full, and of all the nurseries in the district was
the one with the least turn-over. This confirmed the view that of all the
nurseries this was the one most completely fulfilling the object of helping
those mothers who most needed such assistance. It had been felt that
there would be a continued demand for the number of nursery places in
this locality. On the other hand the numbers at the Nursery at Sout
Harrow fell, and it was at one time felt that possibly it would not again
be accepting more than 40 children. The County Council in 1955 again
reviewed the nursery position throughout the county. It felt that it was
not necessary to have two nurseries serving the part of the county from
which children went to the South Harrow Nursery and to the Nursery
at Acol Crescent, Ruislip. They decided to close the Ruislip Nursery.