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39
observe how it works, after which period the Committee could consider
the results.
It is also evident that further home visits should be made to the
toddler group of children, and that at least three visits should be paid
to each individual child per annum. This can only be done adequately
with the suggested increase in the health visiting staff.
It is also desirable that further minor ailment treatment facilities
should be made at some of the Welfare Centres, and the co-operation of
the London County Council sought in this direction.
Additional dental treatment might well be undertaken in the new
health service department next year.
The remaining services would appear to be adequate and comprehensive.
The suggestion of the Minister in paragraph 6 of the Circular, that
supervision of the pre-school children could be more readily effected if
maternity and child welfare services were in the hands of the local authority
responsible for the school medical services, is a thorny problem, and
although the transfer of services under Section 60, Local Government
Act, is not applicable to London, nevertheless I feel that any movement
in this direction on the part of the London County Council should be most
vigorously opposed.
Maternity and child welfare work is essentially a local question,
closely associated with the home, and must be handled in a personal
manner. It is extremely difficult to conceive how such services could
be conducted by a large central authority in the same manner as they are
at present by the Borough Councils.
Recommendations.
I beg to recommend :—
1. That the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee should recommend
the Council to appoint two whole-time women Assistant
Medical Officers. One as soon as possible after September next,
to be followed by a further appointment during the early part of
the next financial year (see page 43).
2. That the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee should recommend
the Council to appoint three health visitors to carry out
the additional work urged by the Minister of Health.