| Many people still refer to the area around the
junction of Wellington Road and Prouds Lane, Bilston as
‘The Clinic’ because of the Centre Health Clinic that
was once based there. The building, which still stands,
is now Bilston’s Community Centre, occupied by Bilston
Community Association. The building now has a hall with
a seating capacity of 130, meeting rooms, a computer
room, a kitchen, and a car park at the rear with ten
parking places. It was Locally Listed in March 2000.
The Centre Health Clinic was designed by E. D. Lyons, L.
Israel and C. H. Elsom, A.A.A.R.I.B.A., architects of
London. The General Contractors were W. Kendrick & Sons
Limited of Walsall. The building was designed to enable
the council to provide the best possible health services
for the local community and to provide ideal working
conditions for the Medical Officer of Health and his
staff.
From an old postcard.
The architects realised that it was necessary to
create a bright and airy building that would have the
desired psychological effect on mothers and infants
alike. Luckily an excellent site was available and the
very modern design soon became a reality. The focal
point of the building was the central waiting hall,
surrounded by the various departments, giving immediate
access to the respective surgeries. There was also a
large courtyard that was used as a playground for the
children in warm weather.
The following departments were housed in the
following three wings:
Wellington Road Wing
Ante-natal room and waiting room.
Toddlers' room and weighing room.
Doctors suite.
Prouds Lane Wing
Dental surgery and recovery room.
Ophthalmic surgery and ultra violet ray room.
Room for orthopaedic treatment.
Minor ailments room.
Front Wing
General office.
Room for health visitors.
Kitchen.
Food store and food sales.
There was also a covered pram shelter and a
caretaker’s house at the rear.
A plan of the building.
The Centre Health Clinic was
officially opened on Wednesday 28th February, 1940 by
the Countess of Harrowby and founded as the final stage
in the centralisation of Bilston's maternity and child
welfare.
At the opening ceremony, the Mayor
(Alderman W. Leighton) described the opening as the
"fulfilment of the dream of Alderman Hughes and a
monument to the late Alderman Fellows, who strove for
years, to reduce infantile mortality in the town."
From the booklet produced for the
official opening.
The health staff consisted of B. C. Haller, Medical
Officer of Health and School Medical Officer; Jane A.
Nagle, Ante-Natal Clinic Consultant; P. G. H. Griffith,
School Dental Surgeon; H. Campbell, Ophthalmic Surgeon;
Miss K. E. Silversides, Miss N. R. Hawkins, and Miss N.
E. Bradshaw, Health Visitors; Miss O. Hill and Miss D.
Evans, School Nurses; Miss E. M. Williams, Dental
Attendant; Miss E. J. Beddows, School Medical Service
Clerk; and Miss M. J. Corbett, Maternity and Child
Welfare Clerk.
The caretaker's House at the rear. |
