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25
Progress
in 1968
SECTION 21 - HEALTH CENTRES
M.T. FERNANDES, M.B., B.S., D.P.H., D.I.H., D.C.H., L.M.,
Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Since the last Annual Report a great deal of advance has been made
in the field of exploring general practitioners' attitudes to architects'
plans of buildings, attachment of local authority Staff, and acceptance in
principle by the Department of Health and Social Security of our plans.
Of course, in terms of bricks and mortar, fulfilment of these plans is
envisaged in the near future. There were many meetings and discussions
during the course of the year with general practitioners, members of the
Executive Council, Department of Health and Social Security, and our
own staff in various departments concerned with the projects.
As outlined in the various plans for the future, health centres are
going to occupy an important place in the tripartite system of medical
practice at the moment. For this reason, space has been taken in one of
the plans for site allotment for post-graduates, as the general practice of
the future is aoina to be a SDecialist branch of medical practice.
King George
Hospital
Health Centre
This has been our most exciting project of the year. The site would
be within the grounds of King George Hospital between Perrymans Farm
Road and Buntingbridge Road, near to the present nurses' home. A postgraduate
medical centre is also envisaged to be built close by. This site
will be leased by the Council from the Regional Hospital Board. 7 general
practitioners have expressed a wish to practise from the Centre. The
Centre will serve a population in excess of 20,000. The Local Executive
Council and the Local Health Authority have agreed that it is a viable
proposition. At a meeting on 17th December 1968 with the Department of
Health and Social Security the scheme was agreed in principle and,
subject to economic pressure, they will no doubt be prepared to recommend
loan sanction.
This Health Centre has been included in our three-year capital programme
for building to commence in 1969 and to be completed in 1971.
Preliminary plans have been prepared.
At a later stage, consideration is to be given to the provision of
consulting accommodation for use by post-graduate doctors training to be
general practitioners of the future, and space has been allocated on the
site for this possible extension to the building.