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1.13.6 This presents a very difficult problem. In the first place there is very little
likelihood of finding an alternative site for a health centre which could satisfactorily
serve the newly developed area, and it would be a great pity to lose this opportunity of
providing an adequate base within the development for the medical, social and community
services which a health centre could supply. On the other hand, a housing redevelopment
programme in a built-up urban area such as Camden does require accurate timing because
the completion of one project is essential to allow decanting from the area next due to be
redeveloped, and delay on one site can have wide repercussions. In the case of the
Abbey Estate project it is anticipated that there will be delay in getting the necessary
approvals, and it becomes a question of deciding on balance which is the proper course
to adopt.
1.13.7 At the end of 1968 the matter remained unresolved, but it may be interesting to
include the Borough Architect's preliminary sketch plans, which show how natural lighting
is provided for much of the internal area and how the various parts of the health centre
could be provided within the limitations imposed by the construction of flats on the upper
floors, [[see page (vi).D
1.13.8 (Tt is satisfactory to record that during the ensuing year most problems were
solved, necessary consents obtained, and serious practical planning started.)
2.1.1

2.1.2 The under-5-year-old section of the population is probably overestimated by
some 2½ to 3 thousand children, because the high level of migration from the borough
(which is only partly offset by a similar flow into the borough) results in some 900
children of each single year of birth being classified at any one time as "address not
known". Although some are subsequently traced, either in Camden or elsewhere, it is
fair to conclude that the great majority of those who move to addresses unknown are
moving out of the borough. This problem is not peculiar to Camden; in the Inner London
Area it was evident for many years before the reorganization of Local Government in
1965. It does, however, result in the retention of growing volume of child health records
which are absolutely worthless to their custodian; it gravely impairs follow-up, e.g. of
immunisation courses; and reduces the reliability of forecasts (which are based on
copies of birth notifications supplied to the Education Authority), of the number of
places likely to be required in schools a few years hence. In fact, only about 40 per
cent, of children born to Camden mothers stay in Camden till they are 5 years old.
BIRTHS
2.2.1 There were 3,572 children born to Camden mothers in 1967, and 3,269 in 1968.
These figures compare with 3,857 in 1966. The proportions of home confinements were
9 per cent, in 1966, 7 per cent, in 1967 and 5 per cent, in 1968.
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