View report page

9
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH CENTRE DEVELOPMENT
Completion of the Chalkhill Heath Centre, which will be the first provided by the Council, was
delayed and it was impossible for the premises to be handed over in the year under review. The delay was
caused by a fire on site and structural strengthening required by the new regulations for system built
premises.
The doctors intending to practise in the Centre remain keen and interested, meeting together each
six weeks to discuss problems of commissioning.
The Craven Park Health Centre project continues and the present expected date of completion is
late 1970.
These two health centres will permit group practice in two important areas of the town and the
concept of co-ordination between the Local Authority Services and family doctors will become more readily
possible in these areas. This is in accordance with modern thinking in the Health Service,
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Under Section 22 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the duty of the 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 attending primary schools maintained by the local education
authority.
Child Welfare and Ante-Natal Clinics
The 15 health clinics continue to offer comprehensive personal service for ante-natal and post-natal
mothers and the care of their children. The constant aim is preventive and educational. Every effort is made
to encourage parents to avail themselves of the services for prophylaxis arranged at all clinics. The smaller
number of births has probably resulted in the decreases in attendances at some clinic sessions during the year.

Mothercraft Classes
There has been less demand for relaxation and mothercraft classes in some areas of the Borough as
a result of more mothers attending classes provided by hospital ante-natal departments. Unfortunately the
special psycho-prophylaxis class held at Kilburn Square Clinic for ante-natal mothers closed during the year
due to lack of trained personnel. This adversely affected the numbers attending ante-natal sessions.
Cervical Cytology
Cervical cytology sessions were held at Stag Lane Clinic on Wednesday mornings, and Kilburn
Square Clinic on Saturday mornings. Patients attending the birth control clinics at London Road, Kilburn
Square, and Stonebridge Clinics are given this facility if required. There was an increase in the number of
tests done—1,642 patients attended during the year compared with 1,289 in 1968.
Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948
As Amended by the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968
As anticipated the amendment to the 1948 Act by Section 60 of the Health Services and Public
Health Act resulted in an almost overwhelming increase in applications for registration as child minders.
369 persons were registered at the end of 1969, but many more applications were made and several
withdrew after the initial visit. There are 45 registered playgroups in the Borough.
DENTAL SERVICE FOR EXPECTANT AND NURSING MOTHERS
AND CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE
(Table 5)
Report of the Chief Dental Officer
Probably due to the impact of dental health education generally and to the tendency of tooth conscious
parents to seek dental inspection and treatment for their children at an earlier age, a smaller percentage of
teeth are being lost in under-five children. It is also pleasing to note that fewer first attendances are for