Doctors to discuss medical centre
A public meeting organised by Rushden Amenities Society at which the doctors of the town will explain the working of the new medical centre in Adnitt Road, Rushden, will probably take place early in May, it was announced last night at the society’s first annual meeting.

Mr. R. R. Griffiths, a former chairman of Rushden Urban Council and now the society’s president, said that when he first heard of the idea of the formation of an amenities society in the town he thought it “a bit of a bind.”

However, he had been “completely converted” by what the society had achieved during its first year and indicated that he would be glad to accept the presidency which was offered for another year.

During the social part of the meeting at the Rock Foundation Hall, about seventy members saw coloured slides and films of Rushden.

Report
The films were taken and edited by Mr. J. W. Houghton, of Rushden Cine Club, and the slides were taken and shown by Mr. Arthur George.

Mr. G. W. Marriott was chairman at the meeting and a report of the year’s activities was read by secretary Mr. Clive Wood. The treasurer, Mr. L. Larman, reported that the society had finished its first year with a credit balance of nearly £30.

Mr. Marriott, Mr. Wood, Mr. Larman and Mrs. J. Slee, Press officer, were all re-elected.

The committee was re-elected with the addition of Mrs. Larman.

Idea is First Class
The new joint general medical centre being built by nine local doctors in Adnitt Road, Rushden – just off Wellingborough Road – will probably be opened in August. But before the official opening members of the public will be invited to a meeting to explain how the new centre will work.

Some months ago the “Echo” revealed that the nine doctors in Rushden and Higham Ferrers had combined resources to operate from one central building. And last week, through one of the doctors, the “Echo” tried to reassure people living in Rushden and Higham Ferrers that there would be no loss of service or efficiency – in fact the new medical centre would improve both.

This is basically reconfirmed in a Press statement issued this week by the nine doctors and Rushden Amenities Society, who first suggested that a public meeting should be held.

The statement says: “Before the opening of the centre the doctors of Rushden and the Rushden Amenities Society are jointly inviting the general public to an open meeting at which doctors will be present to explain the benefits to patients which they hope will result from this appointment system at a central medical headquarters.”

The statement once again confirms that the Higham Ferrers and Irchester surgeries will remain as branches to the main centre, that there will be no change in the present freedom of the patient, but a great improvement in the means of consultation.

I think the decision to have a meeting prior to the new centre opening a first class idea. People who have anxieties will be able to put their questions to the doctors, who, I am sure, will be able to relieve any fears people might have.

Doctors explain new medical centre at Rushden
A remarkable turn-out of well over 500 people took the opportunity of hearing a panel of doctors explain the workings of the new Rushden Medical Centre, which it was said would be opened next month, when a special meeting was held at the Rushden Boys’ Secondary School in Rushden last night.

The medical centre has been built and financed by the doctors in Rushden and all of them will operate from the centre.

At the meeting, Dr. B. W. Paine explained it and told the many people present of the advantages they would gain.

Dr. Paine said that the new building, which is in Adnitt Road, Rushden, would be pleasant to wait in, but with the new centre there were bound to be teething troubles.

He added that there was certainly a world shortage of doctors but the percentage to patients in Great Britain was rising year by year.

Following his talk there were several questions on the health service and the new centre.

Mrs. A. U. Muxlow, a former chairman of the County Health Committee for ten years, congratulated the doctors on their scheme and said that as far as she knew there was only one other project of its kind in the county – at Daventry.

She added that the whole eyes of the county would be on this scheme and the doctors and people should pull together to make it a success.