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40
HEALTH SERVICE PREMISES
As noted last year, many of the clinics and nurseries are in premises which are
held on short tenancies or in requisitioned buildings. Much work was involved in
negotiating new leases when tenancies expired and in finding replacements for
premises which had to be given up. The Government's policy of restricting the
erection of new buildings continued but some progress nevertheless can be recorded.
In only one instance during the year had buildings to be given up without
alternative accommodation being found. This occurred in North Paddington, where
a maternity and child welfare centre in a vicarage had to be closed because the Vicar
needed his house. No other vacant premises could be found in the district and the
work had to be distributed amongst other centres in the vicinity.
Negotiations for the purchase of sites and the planning of buildings proceeded
in anticipation of other premises having to be relinquished in the future.
Replacement of Buildings
The following premises were opened during the year to replace buildings which
had to be relinquished :—
Division 4. Cawley and Wetherell Road Day Nursery, Hackney, was opened on
3rd January, 1949, to replace the war-time nursery which had been accommodated
in the French Hospital. The new nursery was built with prefabricated units erected
by direct labour employed by the Hackney Metropolitan Borough Council, who had
prepared the plans for the nursery before the " appointed day." The cost of erecting
the nursery was, however, borne by the Council.
Division 5. Christian Street Day Nursery, Stepney, was similarly erected on behalf
of the Council by the Stepney Metropolitan Borough Council, who had completed
plans for the work before the " appointed day." The new nursery was brought into
use in April, 1949, to replace a war-time nursery in Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
Glamis Road, Stepney, where accommodation was again required for hospital
purposes.
Division 8. Tulse Hill Housing Estate Maternity and Child Welfare Centre.— A
specially designed centre was opened on 16th September, 1949, in Block 20 of the
Council's housing estate at Tulse Hill. The centre was so designed that when a
comprehensive health centre can be built for the area the accommodation occupied
by the maternity and child welfare centre can be converted readily into flats. The
opening of this centre enabled the use of a church hall to be given up.
Division 1. St. Dunstan's Road School Treatment Centre, Fulham.— A former special
school building was adapted as a school treatment centre and brought into use in
September, 1949. This replaced a centre formerly at Creighton House which had
to be closed during the war because the Creighton House authorities needed the
accommodation for their own services.
Division 6. Deptford School Treatment Centre.— The Lady Florence Institute,
Reginald Square, S.E.8, the property of a voluntary organisation, resumed work
after reinstatement of war damage, and clinics which had been temporarily accommodated
elsewhere were brought together again.
Division 7. Gordon Road School Treatment Centre was opened by the conversion of
a cottage belonging to the Council in Gordon Road, S.E.15. This replaced the former
Rye Lane School Treatment Centre which had to be closed because the owners sold
the premises for other purposes.
Division 9. Gatton Road Bathing Centre, S.W.17.— A new building was opened on
5th January, 1949, on the site of the former centre, which had been destroyed by
enemy action in 1944. The service had been maintained since that year in temporary
accommodation.
Maternity
and Child
Welfare
Services
School
Health
Services