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44
assistance from voluntary sources. This scheme was carefully considered by the
Council but it came to the conclusion that the development of the Centre broadly
on the lines recommended by the scientific advisory committee could best be achieved
if the Council itself acquired the Centre.
The Centre authorities finally abandoned hope of continuing the Centre on its
original lines and decided to realise their assets on the best terms possible with the
proviso that the property should be disposed of to some authority or body who would
use it for purposes related as closely as possible to the aims and objects which the
Centre formerly carried out. The Council was given the first offer of the property
before it was placed in the open market, subject to the condition that the building,
if acquired by the Council, should bear a name other than the Pioneer Health Centre
or the Peckham Health Centre and the Council decided on 12th December, 1950 to
acquire it. A scheme was prepared to use the Centre for the establishment of a day
nursery and ante-natal clinic under the Health Committee and the use of the swimming
bath, gymnasium and lecture hall by the Education Committee. The Education
Committee will also provide in the building during the afternoons and evenings a
wide range of classes to which will be attached a family club. It is also proposed
that medical practitioner and dental group practices will be started when general
medical and dental practitioners desire to use the accommodation. The establishment
of a research unit with financial assistance from the Ministry of Health,
University grants, medico-educational foundations, or other sources is under active
• consideration.
When the building comes into full use the facilities provided, although employed
on different lines, will, it is hoped, perpetuate to some extent the aims and objects
for which the Pioneer Health Centre has become renowned.
Group
practices
Twenty-nine groups of doctors having expressed a desire, through the Local
Medical Committee, to undertake group practice in buildings provided by the Council
as health centres under section 21 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, efforts
were continued to find suitable accommodation for them. Owing, however, to the
shortage of buildings suitable for conversion for group practice, little success was
attained, only one suitable building being found. A scheme to establish a group
practice there was the subject of consideration by the Ministry of Health at the
end of the year.
Acquisition
and reservation
of sites
for health
centres
The arrangements for acquiring and reserving sites for health centres described
in my report for 1949, were carried a stage further when the Council decided that
six sites should be designated under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947
and included in the County Development Plan. It was also decided that a further
17 sites should be reserved on housing estates and in reconstruction areas, etc.
These do not require designation since they are on land which has been or will be
acquired by the Council for larger schemes. The concurrence of the Executive
Council to the designation and reservat on of these sites was sought.
Equipment
The departmental committee set up in 1949 to prepare a standard of equipment
for day nurseries, maternity and child welfare centres and other health service
buildings continued to meet regularly. Ten meetings were held during the year
and consideration of the equipment for the day nursery and the maternity and
child welfare section of the Woodberry Down Health Centre was completed. Subcommittees
were appointed to deal with the furniture and equipment of the general
practitioner wing and with the dental suites of the Centre. The Executive Council
nominated two general practitioners, Dr. A. P. McEldowney and Dr. M. Sorsby
and a dental surgeon, Mr. Seymour Robinson, to serve on these sub-committees
of which each held one meeting during the year.