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12
At last having dealt with the problems relative to the move from premises in which I had practised for
many years (and anyone who has moved house after many years knows precisely what it involves) came the
day of decision. I had met one of the staff, briefly, and was not quite sure what to think; was the smile that
of some partner in a devious plan to rob me of my independence? Having settled in the Centre I was
relieved to find not only a friendly atmosphere and a lot of goodwill all round, but an immediate reaction of
enthusiasm for joint working. In the first place, this applied to my initial contacts, the personnel on switchboard
and reception duties, whom I have since found to be the pillars responsible for the day-to-day running
of the surgeries, and secondly to the health visitors, clinic nurses, social workers and representatives of the
other services all helped along by the tactful management of the Administrative Officer. I hasten to add that
this spirit of friendliness and co-operation has also become the keynote of the relationship between we
general practitioners.
The synergistic effect of health centres has entered the jargon of the medical publications and I have
found in practice that the convenience of being able to discuss the social and psychiatric problems of patients
with an expert ancilliary staff, without the frustrations of having to contact various departments, does indeed
stimulate greater co-operation. Probably more significant is the opportunity which arises to meet members
of other disciplines regularly on both the social and professional basis. This is the great advantage, for one
is able to get straight to the point, knowing their problem and knowing that they "speak your language".
The health centre is not, however, simply an office with services in close proximity providing regular
contact. It is a seed-bed of ideas. Ways are constantly being considered for the expansion and development
of our work, and the staff of the centre seem to be dedicated to this end. In the early stages, we have been
able to implement procedures to add to the comfort and convenience of our patients, especially in respect
of waiting time for surgeries and for prescriptions. In conjunction with the health visitors we have been able
to provide extra services for some of our patients who have a weight problem and we are in the process of
arranging a comprehensive pathology service for the Centre, various aspects of which will be of immense
value both to the patient and to the doctors. Much of the technical and administrative work involved in
these systems is being dealt with by the centre staff. I have found nothing but positive attitudes and constructive
ideas from all sections of the staff, and this is only the beginning.
After all this elaborate praise one asks oneself about the drawbacks. We have been working together
now for just over six months and so far I can find none of this, and I am hopeful that this honeymoon of
inter-relationships will continue."
At the end of 1971, I think it could be fairly said that the centre continued to function very satisfactorily.
The problems met are of the type that could not easily have been foreseen in the planning stages and
considerable experience has been gained for the future.