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5
programme in the years immediately ahead but forms a basis in
the longer term for the extension of general and family practice
from health centres, which it is confidently expected will increase
in momentum in the future. Within the general scheme, detailed
planning of three comprehensive health centres commenced. These
were situated respectively in the Brocklebank, the Larch Road
and the Bridge Lane areas. Sites were allocated by the Housing
Committee, preliminary discussions took place with the general
practitioners and the Executive Council and occupational briefs
approved. These three health centres, which are expected to come
to completion within the next two or three years, will greatly
strengthen the community and family health services of Wandsworth
and may well form the pattern for the future development
of these services.
In July, the Worshipful the Mayor, Alderman Miss G. A.
Morgan, opened the Tooting Child Health Centre. Although, for
reasons which were not under our control, this was not designed
as comprehensive health centre and does not at present make provision
for general practice, it does include a wide range of services.
It incorporates the usual local authority child and school health
services with office accommodation for the group of health visitors
serving that area; there are facilities for chiropody, family planning,
audiology, speech therapy, ophthalmology and health education,
and the building also includes office accommodation for the
South West London Branch of the Family Planning Association.
The new centre replaces the former Tooting School Treatment
Centre which was accommodated in an adapted house and
maternity and child health sessions previously held in rented
Church halls. The design of the centre is such that facilities for
general practitioners could be provided at some future date should
it be desirable to do so. This centre will improve the community
health services in Tooting.
Turning to the provision of facilities for the day-time care of
children under five, the Social Services Committee approved proposals
for the replacement of some day nurseries in Wandsworth,
all of which, with one exception, are accommodated in old houses
not really suitable for day nursery purposes. Firm plans for a new
day nursery on the Brocklebank site to replace the Summerley
Day Nursery are well ahead as are plans for the erection of an
additional day nursery in Oldridge Road under the Government's
Urban Development Programme. These two new day nurseries,
which are expected to be completed within the next two or three
years, will improve in the short term the facilities available for
the day-time care of children under the age of five but the replacement
of the other day nurseries will not be neglected and will be
dealt with as and when the opportunity presents itself.
The general day nursery replacement programme, in conjunction
with the new powers for registering private day nurseries and