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Middlesex Executive Council
This body is responsible for the provision under the
National Health Service Act of the general practitioner,
dental (other than local health authority provision for
expectant and nursing mothers, young children and
school children) pharmaceutical and supplementary
ophthalmic services. The headquarters of the council are at
1, Olympic Way, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 OLF:
Tel: 01-902 8891.
Ambulance Service
The borough is included in the area of the Greater London
Council Ambulance Service. Provision is made for the
conveyance of sick, accident and emergency cases.
Tel: 01-204 0251.
Health Centres
Five Health Centres are in operation at Hounslow, Maswell
Park, Brentford, Feltham and Heston and provide
accommodation for 25 family doctors and cover some
70,000 of our 206,650 population.
Three further centres are being planned — at Chiswick,
Cardinal Road Feltham and Old Isleworth.
Frequent discussions have taken place with groups of
family doctors practising from health centres and also with
those who are interested in working from such centres.
Community Nursing Services
A new management structure based on the recommendation
of the Mayston Report (1969) was implemented in the
borough's community nursing service. Among many
practical reasons why this should have been done, two
expedients are noted a) the hospital service had already
introduced a management structure as recommended in the
Salmon Report 1968, and it was seen as being absolutely
essential to offer parallel career opportunities in the
community if a reasonable staff stability level was to be
maintained, b) Furthermore the new structure would help
to identify post gradings when assimilation of staff is
considered for the reorganised Health Service.
There were many other reasons why this development
was essential and these are outlined in the report
"Development of the Council's Nursing Services" which
was presented to the Staff Relations Committee and later
in September 1972 tothe Health Committee for approval.
This report projected forward planning elements which
were worked out for the borough until 1977, and it is
interesting to note that an increase in the establishment
has been phased to be completed by April 1974; after
which time the new Health Service will be responsible for
staff resources.
Among the many advantages already monitored as a
result of implementing the new structure, is the obvious
increased motivation of staff.
Health Visiting
On the health visiting side performance is being considered
in depth as against serious staff shortages which have
bedevilled the Health Visiting Section for years. It is
hoped that the closer links with the management team
which the new structure will produce will assist Health
Visitors in identifying priorities more readily and thus use
the resources available to the benefit of the client.
Attachment of health visitors to family practice is
developing very slowly because of the low staff ratio
aforementioned. Nevertheless, quite apart from an
increased determination to conserve morale the health
visitors continue to identify new fields of interest, the
latest being a weight control clinic at Bath Road Health
Centre. This has proved to be a highly successful group
venture and there are signs that other areas in the borough
wish to set up similar schemes.
Routine health visiting has suffered, however, as a result
of serious staff shortages and this is reflected in a reduction
of booster immunisation recorded this year.
The wider concept of family community care has
brought the health visitor closer to integrating with the
primary care team and the vital part she plays in this is
strengthening day by day. This is achieved by her readiness
to co-operate and is the result of hard work and excellent
endeavour.
Participation in health education is expanding generally
but again, objectives have not been fully realised because of
staff shortage.
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