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LONDON BOROUGH OF BRENT
Brent House,
High Road,
Wembley.
May, 1968.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Continuous development and expansion of the Health and Welfare services of the Department have
been achieved during this review year. Whilst it must not be regarded as invidious to single out particular
spheres in which activity has occurred, it would be wrong to avoid mention of some of the advances which
are important to residents of the town.
The development of two Health Centres, each to accommodate 10 medical practitioners, with all the
Local Health Authority provisions and all ancillary services, have considerably progressed during the year.
Actual building on the Chalkhill Health Centre commenced in June and the scheduled date for completion is
September 1969. Further planning of the Craven Park Health Centre reached the stage when the scheme was
agreed by the Council, in principle by the Ministry of Health, and at the end of the year loan sanction was
awaited. These two new major health provisions in the town, whilst not being first in any London Borough,
are nevertheless amongst the most advanced schemes in London.
The Day Nursery provision in Brent, whilst comfortably in excess of that provided in many
Boroughs, has been fully utilised during the year and waiting lists have been substantial. The upgrading of the
existing Day Nurseries as a policy, including improved heating, accommodation, and sanitary facilities, has
continued, and work commenced on the new Day Nursery at Shoot-up-Hill in December. The educational
development planned has included new nursery and nursery school provision, which will be incorporated in
new development in the future.
Extension of the clinic facilities for cervical cytology and birth control have been provided during
the year and the new National Health Service (Family Planning) Act, 1967 shows that facilities for contraception
almost certainly will require to be extended in coming years.
The provision of Child Welfare and Ante-natal clinics, a traditional funotion of the Health Department,
has continued during the year and attendances are certainly not less.
The decline in the birth rate has meant that little pressure now exists on maternity hospital beds, with
the consequence that domiciliary births are reduced, causing reduction in the midwifery service. However, we
have received on discharge after 48 hours, an increasing number of mothers and babies.
The increasing need for community mental care is reflected during 1967 in the Council's decision to
increase the establishment of Mental Health Social Workers who will, on appointment, relieve the case-load of
existing staff. During the year the new hostel for rehabilitation of the mentally ill was opened at 9, Willesden
Lane and is able to receive into the community, patients discharged from psychiatric hospital for rehabilitation.
The abuse of drugs of addiction shows a changing pattern in that a few years ago the addicts generally
were middle-aged professional people who had access to drugs in their profession and misused them, but now
youths and adolescents form the largest majority of addicts. The problem is there, we are aware of individual
cases, a few isolated cells of drug abuse exist, but it must be admitted that the problem is not yet fully defined,
consequently in Brent, as elsewhere, is not yet fully contained. However, a session, preserving the anonymity of
the applicant, was opened at the Monks Park Clinic on Thursday evening, and the Kilburn Square Clinic
afford facilities for the Willesden Probation Service to initiate a unit to advise and help teenagers who have
been placed on probation by the Willesden Courts for the illegal possession of drugs.
A new Welfare Residential Home in course of construction at Stag Lane continued during the year
and it is anticipated that this will be open early next year. The Council indeed also have approved, during
1967, the building of another Home in a Neighbourhood Centre at Harlesden.
Television programmes attracted the attention of the nation to the plight of homeless families and,
not as a consequence of this but as an adjunct to the programme, the Council considered the temporary
accommodation provided in Brent for homeless, and during the year agreed to the adaptation of the premises at
54 Winchester Avenue, to accommodate 6 families, and directed the Medical Officer to accept houses in
improvement areas for the reception of families, which in 1967 provided additional accommodation for 10
separate units.
This Report represents work during the third year of the existence of the Department and
consequently does not have the impact of the first one and is not as unique as the first Report was, but it is a
truism to note that cold statistics cannot give an idea of the complete scope of work and it is very difficult to
write a text which will display the scope of work in the Department without becoming over emotional.
The Annual1 Report offers to me the chance to thank all my colleagues within the Health Department
and any other departments of the Council who have assisted during this year to make the Health and Welfare
services provided, acceptable to the client and successful to the community. It is wrong and invidious to single
out particular individuals but in this year one would be remiss not to mention the Senior Public Health
Inspectorate who were subjected to an experience and a cross-examination in the Inquiries concerned with the
South Kilburn (Extended) Area and in which they sustained the case put forward by the Department and by
the Council. Thanks also are due to the Mayor and the Chairmen of the Public Health and Welfare Services
Committees and indeed to all Members of the Council for the support and help which has been available
in time of need, to myself and to all members of the Department, and for this we express sincere gratitude.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
E. GRUNDY,
Medical Officer of Health.