Page 7 - link magazine

NEWS•& VIEWS 7

DELIVERING A BETTER SERVICE LINK TO THE PAST
TO THE COMMUNITY LYDIARD PARK'S MEDIEVAL ORIGINS
by Nick Digby
The Mansion and Park have their The ponds that exist today are
origins sometime after Domesday. also of Medieval origin, originally
In 1086 the whole of the area was built to keep a stock of fish for
part of the Forest of Braydon, a eating. They also allowed some-
royal forest kept for the hunting where for the deer to drink.
of deer and other game. Within A map of the Seventeenth
the next two centuries probably Century shows that a lot of the
some land was granted to the St. woods around the house had been
John family on the edge of the cleared and several tree lined
Forest and was immediately avenues existed - sections of
turned into a deer park. This these can still be seen on the
would not be a park in the modem approach to the house from Hook.
The West Swindon Health Visitor Team sense, but an area of land, par- In the early 1700's a fire dam-
A re-organisation of local health firms the success of the re- tially wooded, for keeping deer aged the house. At that time
services is now eight months old organisation. "We think it is so that the St. Johns could enjoy several formal gardens existed
and is proving very successful. working very well, there is greater hunting on their own estate, and around the house including eight
The nine Health Visitors working contact and continuity between keep themselves in venison as walled gardens probably used to
in West Swindon are delivering the staff and the clients, at home well. The first record of a deer grow vegetables!
health care which is relevant and and at clinics. The clients seem to park is in the Thirteenth Century The Park was landscaped in
accesible to the consumer and like the arragements. For some when eleven deer are granted by 1743, at the same time as the
more satisfying to the workers people its just too difficult to get the King, to a Robert Tregoze, house was remodelled, and new
themselves. Its also cost effective. themselves and children to a to restock his herd. The Kind formal gardens laid out. This was
Health Visitors are usually clinic and we might not have had presumably gave away some of the last major remodelling of the
attached to Doctor's practices. so much contact with them in the his deer from Braydon Forest, park so that the informal and
Because of the rapid growth and past. Now a Health Visitor might possibly in return for services pleasantly wild ground we can
movement in the West Swindon be visiting somebody in a road rendered by Robert. The Park enjoy today, existed by this date.
population, Health Service man- when another mother will ask was extended in the Thirteenth The changes since then have
agers decided in 1986 that Health her in for some advice or help." Century, and possibly again in generally been small such as the
Visitors should be geographically Caroline Trotman, a Health the Sixteenth Century. It may be lane that leads to the church that
based and work with all clients in Visitor in the area since 1983 who due to this that the village of was built in 1830, and the damon
a particular area, no matter who now concentrates on Toothifi with Lydiard Tregoze disappeared, the lake bursting in 1911, to make
the doctor might be. The West colleague Chris Carter, thinks moved aside for the sake of sport. the lake much smaller than it
Swindon team is the only group there is still some way to go before used to be.
working in this way in the the new system reaches its full
Swindon area. potential, "because our work
Whereas Health Visitors used areas have changed, we're still
to do a lot of travelling from getting to know the families we THAMES WOOD
surgeries some distance from the are responsible for visiting, but
clients home, the local team generally we're much more avail- VETERINARY CLINIC
members now concentrate their able to clients. We're happy to
time and effort in one patch. For meet families we have not had
the consumer it means they get contact with and they do not Nicholas Hartley Si A., Vet. Si. B. Si. R C. VS.
to know the Health Visitor for even have to be registered with a Veterinary Surgeon
their area and be sure of having Doctor to receive a visit."
contact with the same person Along with home visiting duties 62/64 Purton Road, Swindon. Tel: (0793) 26780
when they need her. Because of to give advice and help on any
9.00-10.00am.
the large numbers of families aspect of family health and wel- Mon.-Fri: 2.00-300pm. 530-6.30pm.
6.00-I 1.00am.
with young children in the area, fare, the Health Visitors meet Saturday:
it is important that they can get parents who call at their base at
help and advice quickly from 4 Deerhurst Way (on Dunwich 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE
somebody they know and trust. Drive), Toothill, provide support TEL: (0793) 26780
Mothers appreciate this when by telephone, run preparation
children are growing up, especi- for parenthood classes and oper- ..........
ally if they can also meet the ate Child Health Clinics across CHARLES
same Health Visitors at Child the area. These are listed on page
Health Clinics to discuss health 23. If anybody needs to talk to a
matters or any problems that they Health Visitor urgently, they will
have. call round very quickly.There is
The Health Visitors are finding always somebody available at L U C A S
that its easier to get to know Deerhurst Way from 8.45am to
what's going on in the community 4.45pm on weekdays to ensure
and this information can be passed messages can be taken and in-
on to families. However one dis- formation given. The telephone MARSHALL
advantage (or advantage) arising numbers are 642133 or 610459.
from the re-organisation is that
Health Visitors work loads have * NEW FREE
increased as clients get to know Family Planning Clinic and S 1 I I Ii I 'IT (II) 1. S
them, gain confidence and call Cervical Cancer Smear
upon them more often. Tests every Wednesday, S W I N D 0 N
Miss Elizabeth Plumb, Nurse 6pm - 8pm. Walk in, no
(0793)511055
Manager for the local team, con- appointment necessary. TELEPHONE