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8
The Borough and the Department in particular were greatly honoured
when Her Majesty the Queen Mother visited and officially opened the
Adult Training Centre on the 28th March 1970. The other two projects
from the Council's Development Plan—the Day Centre for the Younger
Mentally 111 and the new Community Home for the Children's Services—
were also opened for service early in the year, all soon proving their value
in helping the community services in the Borough.
Starts were also made on two new capital projects during 1970. The
first was the extension of the Special Care Unit at the Junior Training
School and the second, the improved accommodation for health visitors
at Elmwood Clinic. In addition, several minor improvement schemes were
initiated and completed during the year. These include adaptations to
improve the internal layout of the Broadway and Whittlesea Road
Clinics, modernisation of the washing and toilet facilities at Walton Road
Day Nursery and improved oil storage facilities at the Junior Training
School and Tanglewood Hostel. Plans were discussed and finalised for
improved facilities at the kitchen at Tenby Road Assembly Hall and also
for the new Workroom and Kitchen at the new Community Building in
Rayners Lane Estate, Phase 5. These last two projects will allow expansion
in the meals service for the elderly residents in the Borough some time in
1971.
Finally, the up-dated return of proposed capital projects submitted to
the Department of Health and Social Security contained the following
items
1971/72—Home for the Elderly, Stanmore, and conversion of the
heating at two Children's Homes and Haydon Hill Home
for the Elderly.
1972/73—Hostel for Subnormal Adults and conversion of heating
at Coleshill House Home for the Elderly.
1973/74—Day Nursery on the eastern side of the borough.
As in past years, the general theme of the Department's work was
expansion in order to keep pace with current demands. This was particularly
noteworthy in the case of providing help for the elderly with
special emphasis on the chiropody and home help services.
On a more general theme, the development of liaison schemes with
geriatric and paediatric departments in hospitals and general practitioners
in the field necessitated an increase in the Health Visitors establishment.
The appointment of a Consultant Psychiatrist during the year to
advise and have casework discussions with social workers will be invaluable
in strengthening the services provided for the support and maintenance of
patients in the community.
On the environmental side of health services, in addition to the
routine work of the section, progress was made in the Clean Air programme
with another smoke control order and the Borough should be completely
covered by the target year of 1975.