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3
Health Centres and Clinics
Building started on the extension of Manor Drive Clinic during
the year and was planned to be in operation early in 1971.
Efforts to obtain a site in the centre of New Maiden for a
health centre to replace Roselands Clinic were unsuccessful. I regard
this as a high priority new project for the borough. Another very urgent
priority is the replacement of the old and substandard clinic premises at
South Place, Surbiton. It is scheduled to be replaced on an adjacent
site, but this and other Council projects are held up pending the holding
of a public enquiry.
Health Visiting and Domiciliary Nursing and Midwifery Services
There has been an increasing involvement of the community nursing
services with the general practitioners by way of attachment and liaison
schemes which, where successful, must lead to a better service for the
patient.
With further information on the reorganisation of the health
services expected there was increased interest and collaboration between
the local authority and hospital nursing services, which culminated in a
joint one-day conference in November to learn more of each other's work and
role*.
During the year arrangements were made for a ward at Kingston
Hospital to be converted into a general practitioner obstetric ward. Women
in labour will be admitted under the care of their own doctors, and attended
by the domiciliary midwife. Mother and baby will be discharged home within
24-36 hours. This will have the effect of reducing even more the number of
babies born at home (7 per cent in 1970) to negligible proportions» The
scheme, which will give the safety of delivery in hospital consistent with
minimal risk of cross infection, is expected to start in 1971.
Day Nurseriesp Private Nurseries and Child Minders
There was a continued expansion of the private sector services.
One nursery and 78 daily minders were added to the registers, providing an
increase of 156 places.
Health Education
This continued in the main on a similar pattern to previous years.