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1.1.3 Application is then made to the Department of Health and Social Security for
permission to borrow the money necessary for the work to be done.
1.1.4 In all these matters I am greatly indebted to the Borough Architect and his staff
(and in particular to Mr E.L. Ives, at that time Deputy Borough Architect, and
Miss Elizabeth Young) for the enormous amount of work and tremendous interest which
they have shown in endeavouring to provide the best solutions to the many problems
which have arisen. Co-ordination and continuity of processing the various developments
in the Health Department was entirely the responsibility of Dr R. Duncan Dewar,
Associate Medical Officer of Health, who is also responsible for the descriptions which
follow, ably assisted by Mr D.M. Pain who is in day-to-day adminstrative charge of the
department's Planning and Information Section.
1.1.5 The advice and assistance of the Department of Health and Social Security
(formerly Ministry of Health) have done much to solve many of the problems on which
there was little if any former experience to use as a guide, and I would like to express
my thanks to them.
1.1.6 During all the stages the Health Committee are kept fully informed, and the
interest and encouragement of the Chairman and Members have been greatly, appreciated.
1.1.7 The following pages give details uf some of the schemes for the development of
the health services which were completed, in progress, or in the planning stages, together
with some schemes which have not materialised.
LISMORE CIRCUS FAMILY HEALTH CLINIC AND DAY NURSERY
1.2.1 Redevelopment of the Gospel Oak area was proposed by the former St. Pancras
Borough Council, and on the formation of the London Borough of Camden the opportunity
was taken to include in the development plan purpose-built premises for the health
services.
1.2.2 The original proposal was for a health centre which would replace the local
health authority services provided at the Queen's Crescent and Parkhill Centres, and
would accommodate general medical practitioners; together with a day nursery adjoining
the centre which would replace the Kentish Town Day Nursery in Gospel Oak Grove.
1.2.3 In conjunction with the Inner London Executive Council all the general practitioners
practising within half a mile of Lismore Circus were consulted, but unfortunately
adequate support was not forthcoming. At that time (1965) there was some distrust of the
National Health Service amongst some general practitioners, and it was felt by some
that to give up their own surgery premises and to work from premises controlled by the
Executive Council would limit their freedom of action. The plan was, therefore, reluctantly
amended to provide a family health clinic which would provide all the services from the
two centres to be replaced, together with additional services particularly for the elderly.
1.2.4 The development of the area takes advantage of the slope of the whole site to
provide a separation between pedestrians and vehicular traffic, and the family health
clinic and the day nursery are being built on the pedestrian level. The building is being
provided on the southern boundary of Lismore Circus and partly because of the proximity
of the railway, which runs underground at that point, the building is ol one storey only.
1.2.5 The layout of the family health clinic and the day nursery is as shown on
page (i).
The centre is planned to be completed in the late autumn of 1970.
1.2.6 It is intended that when the services are transferred from the Parkhill Centre,
the day nursery there will be enlarged by including the portion of the building used at
present for clinic purposes.
1.2.7 It was necessary to close the Kentish Town Day Nursery to allow the development
to proceed and the children accommodated there were transferred to other day
nurseries, including the Konstam Centre, where the alterations had most fortunately been
completed in time.
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