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9
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH CENTRE DEVELOPMENT
During the early part of the year, meetings of practitioners resident in several areas of the Borough
were called for discussions with the Health Authority concerning the development of Health Centres.
Doctors practising in Kilburn Square, South Kilburn, Chalkhill, Stonebridge, and Willesden Green areas,
were consulted and it became quickly evident that conditions and circumstances were extremely favourable
for the development of a Health Centre in the Chalkhill Redevelopment Area. A report on facilities provided
in the Health Centre and the concept and method of Health Centre development was presented to the
Public Health Committee on 25th April, 1966, shortly after which the Council decided to proceed with a
Health Centre in Chalkhill and a second in another built-up area of the town. An application in principle
for the approval of the Chalkhill Health Centre, was submitted to the Minister on 25th November and his
approval obtained. The project estimate was £80,384, consisting of building costs of £60,000, fees of
£7,000, and furniture and equipment of some £12,000. These sums were placed in the Capital Estimates for
1967/68 and the position at the 31st December was that detailed plans had been completed, tenders received
and loan application made for the Chalkhill project.
In relation to Health Centre development in other parts of Brent negotiations were proceeding and
meetings with the practitioners and representatives of the Executive Council continue to be held.
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Under Section 22 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the duty of every Local Health
Authority to make arrangements for the care, including dental care, of expectant and nursing mothers and
of children under 5 years of age, who are not attend ing Primary Schools maintained by the Local Education
Authority.

Mothercraft Classes
Mothercraft and relaxation classes are often combined and these are held in all clinics. A special
weekly psycho-prophylaxis course for ante-natal patients commenced in January at the Kilburn Square Clinic.
This has proved popular and a reunion of past members was enjoyable as well as instructive and constructive.
Assistant medical officers, health visitors and physiotherapists are involved in the courses, and whilst
both patients and staff are enthusiastic about the outcome, it is too early to measure the overall success
achieved.
Cervical Cytology
In addition to the two well-established cervical cytology clinics in the Borough, a session has been
introduced at the London Road Clinic. This commenced in December, 1965 and caters for an average of 10
patients per week, the slides being examined at the Central Middlesex Hospital. An average of 36 women
per week are examined, the number being limited by the number of slides which can be dealt with by the
technicians.
Liaison with Hospitals
The extremely useful exchange of medical officers between the Paediatric Out-Patient Department
at the Central Middlesex Hospital and the Department was maintained. One Health Visitor attends the
Diabetic Out-Patients Clinic at the Central Middlesex Hospital to liaise with the medical staff and to
ensure that correct instruction regarding diet and treament are carried out by the patients in their own homes.
Nurseries and Child Minders' Regulation Act, 1948
Under the Nurseries and Child Minders' Regulation Act, 1948, a Local Authority must make
arrangements for the keeping of registers and the supervision of Nurseries and Child Minders. During 1966,
6 applications for the registration of nursery premises and 12 applications for child minding were approved
by the Council. Several enquiries were dealt with in addition. There are now 26 nursery premises on the
register and 26 daily minders caring for 818 children. Initially all applications are investigated by the Superintendent
Health Visitor and/or her deputy, and after approval by the Council routine "spot" visits are made
once a term, if possible, to nursery premises and quarterly by the District Health Visitors to the child minders.
As waiting lists are long and urgency for admission pressing there is a tendency in some cases to
exceed the approved number of children. There is also the difficulty in discovering un-registered child
minders. However, constant vigilance is maintained by health visitors and child care officers.