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MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR LONG-STAY IMMIGRANTS
At ports of arrival long-stay immigrants, both Commonwealth and alien, are
referred to medical inspectors and given a pamphlet printed in languages which
they are likely to understand. This is to encourage them to register with a medical
practitioner in their place of residence so that he can arrange for them to go to a
mass radiography unit, a chest clinic or a hospital for X-ray.
The Health Department is notified of the names and addresses of immigrants
entering the Borough with the object of ensuring that at an early date the immigrants
are made aware of how to use the Health Service. An important aim of the department
is to secure by persuasion that those from countries with a high incidence of
tuberculosis have an X-ray of the chest as soon as possible.
The following table, based on returns made to the Department of Health and Social
Security, shows the number notified to the department during 1970, and the number
of successful visits made. Unsuccessful visits occur where the immigrant has moved
out of the Borough and has left no forwarding address.