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9
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH CENTRE DEVELOPMENT
During the year building progress continued on the Health Centre at Chalkhill and it is expected the
premises will be in occupation during 1969. Meanwhile the nine practitioners who have signified intention to
practise from the new Health Centre, kept in touch by periodic meetings to discuss items of management and
functioning in the Centre. The equipment necessary also came under review, and facilities to be provided within
the Centre and relationships of the personnel occupied in the Centre to such outside medical provisions as
hospital and industrial health, have occupied much attention. These meetings it is hoped will allow a smooth
operation of the Health Centre when it is open.
The Health Centre projected for Knatchbull Road is now known as the Craven Park Health Centre
and has been modified during the year to include accommodation for four Dental Surgeons instead of, as
originally envisaged, two Dental Surgeons. On 2nd October, loan sanction was issued by the Ministry of Housing
and Local Government, in the sum of £117,500 for the building of the Centre (including fees) and an item
of £20,000 allowed for furniture. Work on Stage III of the Stonebridge Redevelopment Scheme, including this
Centre, commenced on 21st October, and it is anticipated that the work will be completed in 1970. Some eight
practitioners have indicated their intention to practise from the new Health Centre and four Dental Surgeons
intend to offer general dental service from the premises. The Department has been in touch with the practitioners
themselves, both dental and medical, and with the Executive Council to crystallise ideas for the Centre's
operation and to consider contract arrangements for occupation. The local hospital is extremely interested in
this Centre and hopes to utilise the facilities there for training and teaching purposes.
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 five years of age who are not attending primary schools maintained by the local education
authority.
Child Welfare and Ante-Natal Clinics
A comprehensive personal service is provided for ante-natal and post-natal mothers and the care of
their children in each of the fifteen health clinics in the Borough. This service is widely used and assistant
medical officers and health visitors strive to maintain a standard of good health in the community. A programme
of protection against smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and measles is actively pursued.
Vaccination and immunisation is offered at all health clinics.

Mothercraft Classes
Relaxation and mothercraft classes are available at all clinics. There were 557 classes held and 2,735
attendances in 1968. The special evening psycho-prophylaxis class held at Kilburn Square Clinic for ante-natal
mothers is well attended.
Cervical Cytology
Cervical cytology sessions were held at Stag Lane Clinic on Wednesday mornings, at Kilburn Square
Clinic on Saturday mornings, and at London Road Clinic on Monday mornings. Patients attending the Council's
Birth Control Clinics are given this facility if required. There were 1,289 attendances during the year.
Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948
As Amended by the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968
The amendments made to the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act by Section 60 of the Health
Services and Public Health Act, 1968, revolutionised the registration of child minders. More stringent regulations
are enforced and all women who, for reward, mind one or more children for an aggregate of two hours
per day are required to register as child minders. Since November when the amendment was implemented
applications have steadily increased. The number of daily minders registered in 1968 was 32, making a total
of 69. The total number of nursery premises registered is now 36.