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HEALTH SERVICE PREMISES
Building Programme
The financial restrictions which have for several years prevented the Council from
carrying out much of its health service building programme continued throughout
the year. In addition, the Council decided not to embark on capital projects in 1958-59
and 1959-60 which would cost substantially more than the amount authorised for
1957-58.
Accordingly, only one scheme costing more than ^10,000 was included in the
programme for 1958-59, particulars of which were submitted to the Minister of Health
in accordance with the procedure introduced in 1954. Four other schemes, not requiring
individual approval by the Minister, were included in the programme, and details of
these arc set out in Table (i).
As in the preceding year, divisional health committees decided to defer for the time
being a considerable number of works of minor improvement.
Details of works completed during 1957 and in hand at the end of the year are given
in Tables (ii) and (iii). Schemes approved but not commenced by the end of the year
are indicated in Table (iv).
Comprehensive Health Centres
In 1955 the Council sought some clarification of the Government's policy with regard
to the provision of health centres and was advised that the Minister of Health would be
unable to approve their erection except in areas where existing health services (including
general medical services) were inadequate and additional services were urgently needed
and where moreover general practitioners had signified their willingness to work in a
health centre.
In view of this advice and the difficulties experienced in securing the co-operation
of general practitioners in the provision of general medical services from health centres,
it was apparent that it would be unrealistic and, because of the shortage of land in
London for housing development, undesirable for the Council to continue its policy
of long-term reservation of health centre sites.
Following consultation with the London Executive Council and the Local Medical
Committee the latter suggested that where health centres might be needed later, blocks
of flats might be so constructed that ground floor flats could be converted into health
centre suites, if required in the future. The Council approved in principle this suggestion
and the use in this way, as far as practicable, of sites reserved for health centres.
It was, accordingly, decided to reconsider the future use of each of the 28 sites which
had been acquired or reserved for health centres in consultation with the London
Executive Council, and five sites had been released for other development at the end of
1957.
Housing accommodation over single-storey buildings
In view of the shortage of housing accommodation in London, the Council decided
that consideration should be given in future to the practicability of including residential
accommodation in new premises erected for health service purposes.
Health service premises generally
Particulars of additional and replacement maternity and child welfare, school treatment
and occupation centres provided during the year, and of day nursery premises closed
as a result of the continued decline in the demand for places, are set out in Tables (v)
to (vii).
Table (viii) gives details of properties used for health service purposes in respect of
which the freehold or long-term leasehold interest was obtained during 1957.
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Restriction
of capital
expenditure
and annual
building
programme
Other works