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42
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT (PART III) SERVICES
The Local Health Authority functions under the National Health
Service Act are administered by the Walthamstow Health Area SubCommittee
on behalf of the County Health Committee (Essex County
Council). Details are given in statistical form on pages55 to 72.
Section 21 HEALTH CENTRES
In my Report for 1962 I referred to the six Health Services
Clinics to be provided in Walthamstow in accordance with the
Development Plan for Local Health and Welfare Services.
The first of these to be erected willbe the one in Hurst" Road;
for which a revised sum of £139,500 has been allocated. Work on
the project should commence during the autumn of 1964.
The building will be of 3 storey construction with the Clinic
services accommodation on the ground and first floors and a flat
for a resident caretaker on the second floor.
All the Specialist and School Health Services such as Ear, Nose
and Throat, Paediatric, Ophthalmic and Dental Clinics at present
accommodated in the Town Hall will be transferred to the new
premises together with others, such as the Child Guidance Service,
Speech Therapy and Orthopaedic Clinics which are now operating in
buildings situated in various parts of the Borough.
A new service available at the Clinic will be the Audiology Unit
which will undertake the scientific testing of children's hearing,
particularly young children who by reason of congenital disabilities
or other factors may be subject to defective hearing. Specially
designed soundproof rooms together with up to-date equipment will be
provided and the Unit will be staffed by a Consultant with particular
skills in this field, aided by trained assistants.
It is also intended to provide an opportunity for three local
medical practitioners to operate their practices from the new Clinic.
These doctors will not be provided with special separate accommodation
but will make use of certain rooms during periods when these are not
required for use by the Local Authority Services.
It is hoped by this means that the general practitioners will be
able to make greater use of the specialised facilities provided by
the Local Authority and it will be possible to build up an integrated
service to the community based on improved relationships and a cooperative
spirit among all personnel employed in the Clinic.