View report page

CLINICS AND CENTRAL OFFICE
Becontree Clinic
The 'new look' in clinic renovation and decoration was continued this year with the
large programme of structural repair and complete re-flooring and redecoration of
Becontree Clinic.
The scheme met with approval from all concerned and in spite of the difficulties of
closing the clinic from July until September, and moving equipment and records to
Thompson Road Infant Welfare Centre and Five Elms School Clinic, there was the
minimum of disturbance and the maximum of understanding from staff and patients alike.
The work was completed within the allotted time by the Borough Engineer's staff, whose
friendly co-operation and interest made the work so much easier.
Leys Clinic
Work was completed on the laying out of a car drive-in at Leys Clinic and was
started on internal alterations of the clinic building. The changes were suggested by
the Physiotherapy and Orthopaedic Department in the clinic because of the increase in
amount of equipment and the inadequacy of the waiting room space. In 1960 the work
will be complete and there will be a separate entrance, large enough for wheelchairs and
directly accessible by ambulances to the Physiotherapy Department, and a self-contained
waiting hall. The larger physiotherapy room will be cubicled.
Speech therapy and school health will then be able to take over the other wing of
the clinic, leaving the third wing for maternity and child welfare.
Marks Gate
The new Essex County Council Clinic at Marks Gate was opened in April, 1959,
and though considerably smaller than Oxlow Lane is well planned for the limited uses
of maternity and child welfare and school health. It is not, however, large enough to
provide adequate space for chiropody and physiotherapy, which services are sadly
lacking in the north of the borough.
The attendances at Marks Gate have shown a steady increase throughout the year
as the younger families move out to the new estate.
Five Elms School Clinic
The Education Department agreed that after 7 years Five Elms Clinic was in sore
need of redecoration and this has now been almost completed, giving this quite inadequate
accommodation at least a clean, gay look. Although these premises were not designed
with the needs of a clinic in mind but are part of the school building, the area and number
of schools covered by this clinic and the number of attendances annually make it impossible
to consider closing the clinic and increasing the sessions at neighbouring clinics as
we were able to do in the other two school clinics held on school premises at Hunters
Hall and John Perry Schools.
42