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The availability of dual purpose rooms for Infant Welfare Sessions affords the
opportunity for private consultation, so lacking in the old premises. This allows more freedom
for mothers to discuss personal and family difficulties, and advice given, away from the
clamour of a busy clinic, is more readily understood.
The provision of a beautiful self-contained children's unit with full toilet facilities
and safe outdoor play area, has enabled the Development Sessions to continue. Future plans
for extra sessions in addition to the hoped for expansion of facilities for under 5's in Play
Groups and Nursery Classes, should go a long way to overcome the natural deprivation of
young children in our community.
The new building being flexible in design lends itself to subdivision for small groups
for film shows and discussion. These will be much enhanced by having varied members of
the team to take part in them. Already planned, and in operation:-
Ante Natal and Mothercraft Classes
Short courses for mothers of first babies
Mothers with toddlers
The staff co-operating with the Medical Research Councils Units into such subjects
as Sleep difficulties in toddlers, and carrying on the usual varied clinic and visiting service
to the community.
The social work team, comprising a team leader, three full-time social workers, a
welfare assistant, a trainee and a full-time support clerk, moved out from Leyton Town Hall
to the newly-built St.James' Health Centre in September, 1970. This was the first group of
social workers in the borough to work in such close proximity with a Group of General
Practitioners.
The advantages of accessibility for all concerned has become apparent. Close
contact with G.P.'s., health visitors, district nurses, chiropodist and administrative staff
was established very early on and is maintained by frequent meetings in the Centre, which
include case discussions. Information about people making use of the Centre is easily
collated by the staff involved, thus effecting the maximum use of knowledge and skills for
the benefit of the patient or client.
When the team is completed as the Seebohm Report envisages, it will be responsible
for all the social work needs of the area.
From a social work point of view the ability to discuss common problems informally
with professional staff from other disciplines within the Centre has enabled a sense of
common purpose to emerge, and it is hoped that the Health Centre will become a real focal
point for the exploration and development of community needs.
FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
The purchaser of any food has a right to expect that the food shall be safe for
consumption by him. All types of processed food should have been prepared from
uncontaminated food and under proper hygiene conditions. Prosecutions taken in very bad
cases of food contamination such as bandages in food, beetles in bread, dirty milk bottles
etc., should be given sufficient publicity to impress the public that the necessary steps
are being taken by the authority to safeguard their food.
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