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11
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH CENTRES
The Craven Park Health Centre, the second to be provided by the Council, was handed over to
the Department on 4th October, 1971. The Centre, which occupies the ground floor of a block of flats in
the Stonebridge Redevelopment Area, is a short distance from Harlesden Station and is on the main bus
routes. There are nine consulting and nine examination rooms for general practitioners, four dental surgeries
(two for private and two for local authority dental surgeons), two surgeries for a dental hygienist and dental
auxiliary, and accommodation for the Council's personal health services. The final estimated cost, including
building fees, furniture and equipment is £137,500.
During the two weeks following the hand over, the Centre was almost completely furnished and
equipped and on 18th October was opened to the public. Two general practitioners commenced practising
from the Centre on that day, as were all the Council's personal health services transferred from the old
Stonebridge Health Clinic. In the next few weeks three more general practitioners moved in and the Council's
services were expanded to include the sale of old peoples' welfare foods and an evening family planning
service.
Dr. Malcolm Mitchell, Chairman of the Management Committee, has kindly provided the following
report:—
"On October 30th, 1971 in the presence of His Worship the Mayor, the Craven Park Health Centre
was opened by Mr. Laurie Pavitt, Member of Parliament for Willesden West.
The conditions in which the general practitioners work are ideal, and they are now able to plan
their days work by means of an appointment system, and with a considerable amount of ancillary help. There
is close liaison between the local health authority, the general practitioners, and the Central Middlesex
Hospital. Although this is a new project in this area, the patients themselves have been full of admiration for
the Centre, and for its working.
Scope of the Centre is such that it includes a full general practitioner service, in association with local
health authority services of school medical officer, health visitors, nursing services and chiropody, and services
for the elderly. Also there is a family planning clinic and a school dental department.
At the present time there are still vacancies both for general practitioners and for dental practitioners
in the building, but it is hoped that the remaining accommodation will be occupied in the near future."
The Chalkhill Health Centre, the first to be provided by the Council had its first full year of
operation.
On 1st January 1971 a collection service for pathological specimens was inaugurated in conjunction
with the Central Middlesex Hospital. Council transport picks these up from the Health Centre each day and
takes them to the hospital for examintion. Results are received through the post within 48 hours.
Later in the same month the health visitors started a Mothers' Club, where young mothers can
bring their children to the Centre and have lectures on a variety of subjects by different speakers. These
have included a Police Officer, a Marriage Guidance Counsellor and a representative from ROSPA. A cup
of tea is provided and the social and instructional hour is much appreciated.
The cytology sessions were extended in January to include an evening clinic which is especially
useful for working women.
A dentist providing general dental services under the National Health Service Act moved from his
surgery in Chalkhill Road to the Health Centre on 20th April 1971 and now practises there two days a
week. On the other three days he is at his surgery in South London.
The speech therapy clinic started in mid May and the chiropody sessions at the end of May. In
early June the local authority Dental Department opened.
It was found necessary to commence another birth control clinic due to increased demand and it was
thought preferable to hold this as an evening session. It commenced on 2nd Decmber, 1971.
During the year, six lunchtime film shows were given by drug firms on various medical subjects, to
which doctors, health visitors and nurses were invited.
Dr. Michael Arnold, Chairman of the Management Committee, has kindly provided the following
report:—
"The Chalkhill Health Centre can now be regarded as a fully established general practitioner and
local authority unit in the style that is becoming prevalent throughout the country. Indeed hardly a week has
gone by without visits from doctors and administrative officers in this country and from overseas—all interested
in the actual working arrangements of a health centre. Notable amongst our visitors was Senator Edward
Kennedy who paid us a visit on 10th September 1971 on behalf of the U.S. Senate Health Committee. This
evoked considerable mass media interest. An Australian Government Commission on Health Services, and
recently Professor Andrew, Dean of Monash Univesity, Australia, paid us a visit. In addition, nurses, medical
secretaries and Middlesex Hospital medical students in their first clinical and later years have all had
conducted instructional visits to the Centre.
After our initial settling down period in consolidating the routine work of the centre, considerable
thought has been given to the additional roles that the Centre can usefully carry out on behalf of the
community it serves. Towards this end, with the help of the Central Middlesex Hospital Industrial Health
Unit, and in consultation with the Secretary of State, a small industrial unit operating from the Chalkhill
Health Centre will soon be set up to serve the needs of local industry.
The Health Centre is an ideal place for participation in projects and discussions are now being
held with personnel of the Northwick Park Hospital M.R.C. Clinical Research Centre.