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III. PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
Personal Health Services comprise services provided by the Council, in its capacity
as a local health authority, under the provisions included in Part III of the National
Health Service Act 1946. Included in this section of the report also are services provided
under the Mental Health Act 1959.
CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE YEAR-
SECTIONS 21-29 OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT 1946-
Section 21 - Provision of Health Centres
A great deal of discussion is taking place on the integration of the services
available under the National Health Service Act 1946, particularly those provided by
general practitioners and local health authorities. Whilst most would agree that monolithic
'health centres' are not the answer, provision of centres under Section 21 is not acceptable
to all. In this area, five years ago, the response from general practitioners to
discuss possible schemes for joint working from combined centres was very poor. However,
in the last year or two, in different areas of the borough interest has been forthcoming
from many groups of doctors. Discussions initiated by this authority have taken place
which were attended by representatives of the Inner London Executive Council, Inner London
Local Medical Committee, the Ministry of Health and general practitioners. Throughout
the borough there are now tentative plans for group practice liaison with the local health
authority in at least four areas-
i) Roman Road area, E.2. In a large-scale borough housing development over the next
few years it is hoped to build a medical group practice centre planned integrally with the
community housing scheme;
ii) Spitalfields area, E.1. A group of doctors has shown interest in practising
from a centre planned in the new Toynbee Hall redevelopment;
iii) Bethnal Green area, E.2. In the redevelopment of University House Settlement
plans include group practice premises for local doctors;
iv) The Watney Street development area, south of Commercial Road, E.1. includes
seven general practitioners who are, or will be, displaced by current developments and who
have met to explore methods of working from a group practice combined with premises for
the provision of local health authority services preferably within the same building. In
the Ten-Year Development Programme, the replacement of St. George's Infant Welfare Centre,
Cable Street, by a purpose-built clinic is planned. It is hoped that this can be incorporated
with a group practice to serve the seven doctors either as a Section 21 or Section 22
centre, or a group medical practice centre with local health authority services provided
in close proximity thereto. A site has been earmarked and, subject to financial provision
27.