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Assessment Centres
Early detection of physical, mental and emotional defects is a normal
function of the child health clinics conducted by the local authority and
also by general practitioners in their own surgeries. The weekly assessment
centre at Northwick Park Hospital continued during the year. This was
run by Dr. B. Priestley, Consultant Paediatrician. An Assistant Controller
of Health Services and a social worker assisted by being able to bring
their knowledge of the families and of the local supporting services. The
medical officer also assists by carrying out the psychological testing. The
clinic is now held near to the children's ward in the hospital and a two-way
mirror in the examination rooms allows others to observe the child whilst
he or she is being examined or tested. Apart from consultants of other
specialities and para-medical staff being available to help in the assessment
of particular children, local authority staff, health visitors and social
workers especially often attend if they have been involved with a particular
child or family.
The Health Department continued during the year to supervise the
day nursery services and administer the Nursery and Child-Minders
Regulations Act 1948 and will continue to do so until such time as the
Social Services Department is geared staff-wise to accept responsibility
for these services.
Day Nurseries
The Borough has two day nurseries, both being prefabricated
buildings, which were erected during the Second World War and both
now showing increasing signs of wear and tear, being past their reasonable
length of life. They accommodate 110 children, aged 0-5 years:
(1) Headstone Drive, Wealdstone 50 places
(2) Walton Avenue, South Harrow 60 places
There have been increasing requests for day nursery places during
the year, admission to the nurseries being determined by the usual system
of priorities, that is, unsupported mothers; social grounds, especially