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LONDON BOROUGH OF BRENT
Brent House,
High Road,
Wembley.
June, 1969
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Extension and improvement in the services for which the Department is responsible continued during
the current year and these are dealt with substantially in the body of the Report. There are, however, some
expansions of service which are difficult to place in the sections of the Report which follow but one feels
should be noted here.
The opening of Roberts Court, a new Welfare Residential Home, on 23rd October offered increased
facilities for the aged in the town, and further provision of temporary accommodation, by the conversion of
54 Winchester Avenue and the acceptance of seven premises in redevelopment areas, helped materially with
the accommodation of homeless families.
Brent No. 5 (Preston Park) Smoke Control Order came into operation on 1st July, and Brent No. 6
(Willesden Green) Smoke Control Order was approved by the Minister in December. These advances and
improvements in environment it is hoped will show reward in less bronchial disease in these particular neighbourhoods
and in the Borough.
A new Day Nursery was opened at Shoot-up Hill on 5th October, and additional clinics provided as
a result of the National Health Service (Family Planning) Act, 1967, whilst vaccination of young children
against measles was undertaken for the first time as an exercise in preventive epidemiology.
The increasing and very desirable tendency of the Health Department to be closely associated with
practitioners in the area, continued during the year by liaison of Health Visitors with four practitioners, and
District Nurse attachments to seven general practitioners. These associations will be materially improved with
the opening of the Health Centres, but meanwhile valuable experience is being obtained and invaluable service
rendered to the patients concerned.
During the year papers were published by members of the staff on the question of reasons for admission
to residential accommodation, which appeared in Case Conference journal, and attachment schemes of
nursing staff to practitioners, which was written by the Clinical Nursing Officer and a general practitioner in
collaboration, and appeared in "Nursing Times". The fact that these were published indicates that the Department
is, at least in some respects, regarded as an advanced and forward-looking organisation.
In the administrative structure of the Department it was not necessary to make changes and we were
fortunate that no senior members of the staff left the Service during the current year.
The Seebohm Report on the Reorganisation of Health and Welfare Services was published, and the
Green Paper on the National Health Service originated from the central Government. However, in view of
local government reorganisation generally, Boroughs were asked to delay implementing decisions on these
Reports.
The Committee structure relating to the Health and Welfare Department was rationalised by
the inauguration of one Health and Welfare Committee responsible for both services sitting with no permanent
sub-committees. This was associated with an extensive delegation of function to the Medical Officer of Health
which involved a considerable amount of responsibility and a not inconsiderable amount of extra work. However,
the administrative changes at the present moment appear to be operating successfully.
A Joint Circular was issued by the Home Office, Department of Education and Science, and Ministry
of Health, on the 4th October, which announced the Government's initiation of an Urban Programme of expenditure
mainly on education, housing and health and welfare, in areas of special social need, of which Brent
was one. In order to encourage the improvement of services in these areas, the Government was prepared to
approve proposals for additional capital expenditure and to approve a new specific grant (additional to the
existing rate support grant) towards revenue expenditure on items falling within the programme.
The Government wanted work on the programme started at once, and it had decided that the initial
phase should cover the remaining months of the year. Proposals were required before 15th November, 1968.
Expenditure to be approved under the programme in the initial phase was restricted to—
(i) expenditure on the provision, expansion or improvement of nursery schools and classes, day
nurseries and children's homes; and
(ii) expenditure on additional staff, equipment and running costs necessary to carry on nursery schools
and classes, and day nurseries provided in the programme.
Exceptionally, consideration would be given to the approval of capital expenditure on a project of
great urgency not falling in these fields where a local authority made a special case for its inclusion.
The Council considered the Joint Circular in relation to the provisions for young children, and also
submitted application for sums of money to be granted for the purchase of premises to accommodate homeless
families. Eight projects were put forward and five accepted by the Minister. Since then the Council have
decided not to proceed with one project but a start has been made in the current year and subsequent progress
will be outlined in future Reports.
The great indebtedness of myself and the Department is once again expressed to colleagues in other
Departments and within the Health and Welfare Department itself. Thanks are also due to the Mayor, the
Chairmen of the Committees and all Members of the Council for their support, help and guidance during
the year under review.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
E. GRUNDY,
Medical Officer of Health.