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APPENDIX D
SOUTH EAST LONDON GENERAL PRACTITIONERS' CENTRE
St. Mary's Road, S.E.I5
(Medical Director, Brigadier H. L. Glyn Hughes, c.b.e., d.s.o., m.c., m.r.c.s., l.r.c.p.)
The following abbreviated account of the activities of the South East London General
Practitioners' Centre during the first twelve months of its existence is based on the
Director's report to the House Committee.
Introduction
The South East London General Practitioners' Centre, which was officially opened on
16 February, 1961 by Lord Cohen of Birkenhead, provides general practitioners with
facilities for diagnosis, treatment and minor operations which they do not possess in their
own surgeries and with a range of subsidiary services, including organised discussion
groups, lectures and a well-equipped common room.
The Centre was established by the London County Council, who provided, adapted and
maintains the premises, supplied the furniture and non-specialist equipment, the nursing,
health visiting and secretarial staff and appointed the Director. Generous financial
assistance was given by the Nuffield Foundation towards the cost of adaptations and
equipment and by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust in respect of the Director's salary and
expenses. The South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and the Camberwell
Hospital Management Committee provided the specialist equipment, staff and consultants
for the radiological and pathological departments. (See table (v) for financial
statement.) The College of General Practitioners has supported the project throughout
and invaluable advice and assistance has been given by local general practitioners, both
in the planning stage and since the Centre has been open.
The general management of the Centre is the responsibility of a House Committee
consisting of members of the London County Council, representatives of general practitioners
and of all the organisations associated with the establishment of the Centre. A
Medical Staff Committee of general practitioners and the Centre consultants acts in an
advisory capacity to the Director on existing and projected activities of the Centre.
Background
The Centre is in part of the former Pioneer Health Centre, where the 'Peckham
Experiment' was carried out. This was pioneer research work into human health and the
biological observation of the family as a unit, and the building was equipped for both
medical and recreational activities, including a swimming bath.
When the Pioneer Health Centre closed and the premises were purchased by the London
County Council in 1951, various health and education activities were accommodated there
and a committee was set up by the Council to consider the possibility of continuing some
form of medico-sociological work in the building. In discussions with interested organisations
the need emerged for a diagnostic centre for general practitioners and for a centre
where senior medical students could obtain instruction in general practice, and support
for such a project was promised. This need was confirmed at meetings of local general
practitioners, whose support was immediately demonstrated by the election of representatives
to form an advisory committee. In 1958, the approval of the Ministry of Health
having been obtained to the Centre being set up under section 21 of the National Health
Service Act, detailed planning began.
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