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which the local health authority services could operate. The services at the existing premises have
grown more complex and numerous because of their central position. They include for example
the only audiology unit and orthoptic clinic in the Borough and the pressure for accommodation
has been such that on occasion a service has not been able to expand, or a new service has had to be
refused. The only child guidance clinic in the Borough is situated little more than a hundred yards
from this site and it is intended that it also should form part of the new centre. There would
appear to be ample reason to go ahead with a Stage I project.
THAMESMEAD HEALTH CENTRE
The temporary health centre, after comparatively little use in the latter half of 1969, due to
building delays in the area, became increasingly active and functionally diversified thoughout 1970
in response to the needs of the incoming population. In all large new developments of this type
involving a rapid growth of population which has been somewhat arbitrarily and sociologically
chosen, it is beneficial to all concerned if the centre staff has some prior knowledge of the new
arrivals. Early in 1970 the Greater London Council Housing Department agreed to let the Acting
Medical Officer of Health have information which would ensure that new families could not arrive
unknown to the health visitor. The centre itself required various adjustments affecting its structure,
equipment and personnel throughout these months and such changes and its future planning were
facilitated by the formation of a committee initially composed of the general practitioner, the
dental practitioner, the Secretary of the Joint Health Services Advisory Committee, a representative
of the Clerk of the South East London and Kent Executive Council, the Chief Dental Officer
and the Acting Medical Officer of Health as its first chairman. Reports from this committee were
submitted to the Joint Health Services Advisory Committee. The second medical practitioner to
the Centre, Dr. R.M. Turner, M.B., B.S. was appointed in May and the second dental practitioner,
Mr. P.J. Mainwaring, B.D.S. was appointed in June. As with the first practitioners, these also were
given appointments on the staff of Guy's Hospital, and employed on a sessional basis by the Local
Authority, thus continuing the full integration of all three branches of the health services.
In addition to the provision of basic health services, such as diagnosis, treatment and antenatal
care, other innovations were planned or initiated, such as group discussions on specific
subjects led by a member of the Centre team, and clinics dealing with special conditions or with
specific age groups. The team was reinforced by others from the Health & Welfare Department
and elsewhere.
Speech therapy was commenced, a dietician from the Brook Hospital gave guidance to the
weight-watchers group, and a family planning clinic, the thousandth clinic of the Family Planning
Association, was opened. In these early months a social worker from the nearby Thamesmead
Christian Community Office also co-operated in the work of the Centre. During the summer three
medical students from Guy's Hospital worked at the Centre. Later in the year it was becoming
apparent that these activities were rapidly filling the weekly programme. The general practitioners
who at first had been able to devote some of their local authority time to other clinics in the
Borough were now less able to do so and the two dental practitioners had to share the one and
only surgery. By September the general practice list had grown to 1,600 and about 500 dental
patients had attended the Centre. It was clear however that the needs of the population were being
met and that prevention in its various forms was being practised both in word and deed.
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