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The building has two floors providing consulting room accommodation for seven
medical practitioners and one Departmental medical officer on the ground floor. A departure
has been made from the usual practise of providing examination rooms adjoining the consulting
rooms. Instead a total of twelve rooms, all of which are similarly equipped, is available
and these can therefore be used alternatively for consultations or examinations or by various
other personnel at the Health Centre who have need of a room at times for consultative
purposes.
Incorporated in the consulting room area is a treatment room for dealing with patients
referred by the medical staff for dressings, injections, minor injuries, blood tests, etc.and
also a room equipped with an operating table and light and anaesthetic apparatus in which
minor surgical treatment can be carried out.
There are two rooms for chiropody treatment and the Council also provides facilities
for Infant Welfare Sessions, Toddlers Clinics, Ante-natal Relaxation Classes and Immunological
Sessions.
Office accommodation for groups of Social Workers, Health Visitors, Home Nurses and
Midwives is provided on the first floor and there is also a flat for the resident caretaker.
The staff of clerks, receptionists and telephone operators attached to the Health
Centre who serve the needs of the general practitioner service, and the local authority
services are controlled by an Administrative Assistant in Charge. All these persons are
employees of the Council and a proportionate charge for the work they perform for the general
practitioners is reclaimed from the North East London Executive Council, together with
appropriate amounts for caretaking, cleaning, lighting and heating.
After 41 very full and active years the services and staff of Low Hall Lane Health
Services Clinic moved in September to a brighter future more in keeping with the 70's in
this new centre. Most of the modern services were tried out in the old surroundings but were
hampered by poor facilities. The move came at a good time to develop to the full all the
advantages which could accrue from the 'Seebohm era*.
Liaison with General Practitioners started in the mid 50's in this area with one
Health Visitor and one group practice once a week - this was extended to three practices
over the years but distance and the difficulties of telephone contact limited its usefulness.
A modified GP/HV attachment scheme started in April, 1970 in anticipation of the move to
the Health Centre, this paved the way for the development of the complete attachment of
2 Health Visitors from September. The situation where clients can see Doctor - Nurse
Health Visitor and Social Worker within one building and without lengthy delays in contacting
or travelling to them, improves the service so much for all concerned in it. We look forward
to the time when all practitioners using the centre can have this attachment.
Half the areas families are registered with general practitioners not in the centre.
These families use the accessory facilities fully and 2 Health Visitors serve them. It is
probable that their numbers will fall somewhat in the future when those families moving into
new housing projects find travelling long distances back to their previous doctors impractical.
The increased telephone provision means not onlythat Health Visitors are more
easily contacted by colleagues; Social Workers from many London Hospitals as well as local
ones, Voluntary Societies etc., but the families are often saved time, worry and a journey by
more immediate contact themselves.
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