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The Centre, one of several in Lewisham, grew from the original Forest Hill
School for Mothers. This had been founded in 1908 and was held in the Mission
Hall, Perry Rise. Other similar activities developed in this area so in 1914 the
school transferred to the Mission Hall in Ewart Road where it adopted the name
of the Forest Hill Infant Welfare Centre. Three years later the Centre transferred
to the Salvation Army Hall in Wastdale Road, where it remained until 1928
when it moved for a stay of one year into the old St. Saviour's Hall, Brockley
Rise. From 1929 until 1944 the Centre was accommodated in the Methodist
Hall, Brockley Rise, from where it had to move when the premises were severely
damaged by enemy action. For the next two years it was housed in the Central
Methodist Hall, Stanstead Road, and from 1946 until 1956 in St. James's Hall,
Stanstead Road. In 1956 the Centre made its final move back to Brockley Rise
into the new St. Saviour's Hall which had been rebuilt after having been almost
completely destroyed during the war.
In its beginnings the Centre had been supported entirely by voluntary contributions
but subsequently grants were obtained at various times from public
authorities, such as the Board of Education, Ministry of Health, Lewisham Metropolitan
Borough Council, London County Council, and Lewisham London
Borough Council. Additionally, over a period of some thirty years the Centre
had benefited from donations from such sources as the Alexandra Rose Day Fund
and, occasionally, the Sunday Cinemas Fund.
The history of the Centre is one of continued steady expansion and improvement
despite the disadvantages of so many enforced changes of accommodation,
and reflects years of devoted service by the officers and members of the Voluntary
Committee and all persons associated with the work of the Centre. There has
always been the closest co-operation between the Voluntary Committee and the
local health authority whose medical and nursing staff have worked in the Centre
from its beginning. The magnificent efforts over the years by all concerned contributed
to the undoubted success of the Forest Hill Infant Welfare Centre in
helping to establish and maintain the services in the area. The links between
the Health Department and the Voluntary Committee will not be entirely broken
as some of the members will continue to work in the new Centre.
Future Progress
In September the Health Committee confirmed a decision taken in 1967 providing
for the complete coverage of the borough by comprehensive health centres,
approved the broad areas to be served by these centres and authorised the
appropriate officers to proceed with all possible speed to identify and acquire
sites for the implementation of the plan by 1 April, 1974.
Detailed drawings of a small health centre in Honor Oak with surgeries for
the general practitioners were approved by the Department of Health and tenders
were invited before the end of the year. Formal Department of Health approval
was received to plans for the provision of two of the health centres to be included
in the development programme on sites which have been identified in Deptford
and Lee. The centre in Deptford will include individual surgeries for six general
practitioners and the one in Lee will have four consulting suites, which will be
used by two partnerships. The Council gave approval to the provision of land
forming part of a redevelopment area in Lower Sydenham for a centre to serve
that area. Eight general practitioners in two partnerships expressed an intention
to practise from the centre.
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