[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow].

  • Harrow (London, England). London Borough.
Date:
[1973?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    26 phase is utilised as an assessment period for each child, the actual assessment carrying on into school life. The progress of these children is carefully observed and the mother supported and counselled as to how best she can help her child. Facilities for immunisation are available at child welfare sessions, vaccination no longer being offered as advised by the Department of Health and Social Security in Circular 12/71. There were 22 babies with a total of 24 abnormalities notified under the national scheme for the registration of congenital abnormalities. Welfare foods are distributed at all the 17 child health centres. The following table gives the number of children attending infant welfare and toddler sessions from 1967 to 1972:- Year Number of Children attending Clinics 1967 11,963 1968 10,833 1969 10,986 1970 11,486 1971 11,036 1972 10,618 Assessment Centres Early detection of physical, mental and emotional defects is a normal function of the child health clinics conducted by the local authority and also by general practitioners in their own surgeries. The weekly assessment centre at Northwick Park Hospital continued during the year. This is now run by Dr. M. M. Liberman Consultant Paediatrician. An Assistant Controller of Health Services and a social worker assisted by being able to bring their knowledge of the families and of the local supporting services. The medical officer also assists by carrying out the psychological testing. The clinic is now held near to the children's ward in the hospital and a two-way mirror in the examination rooms allows others to observe the child whilst he or she is being examined or tested. Apart from consultants of other specialities and para-medical staff being available to help in the assessment of particular children, local authority staff, health visitors and social workers especially often attend if they have been involved with a particular child or family. Day Nurseries and Registered Child Minders The Health Department continued to supervise the day nursery services and administer the Nursery and Child Minders Regulations Act 1948 until April 1st when the Social Services Department were able to accept responsibility for these services.