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mentally-ill and mentally sub-normal, and other types of homes and hostels.
During the year, 130 adults (including one expectant mother) and 19 children
under school age were sent on recuperative holidays. Arrangements were made with
the Inner London Education Authority on behalf of 136 schoolchildren.
Advisory and Preventive Clinics for the Over-Sixties
Co-extensive with the decision to carry out a pilot health survey of the general
public, the Council also agreed to set up advisory and preventive clinics for
people over 60 years of age in a number of its existing welfare centres. The Inner
London Executive Council and the Inner London Local Medical Committee indicated
their support of the scheme; Ministry of Health approval to modify the
Council's proposals under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, is
not required. It is anticipated that the first clinic will commence in January 1968.
These clinics will provide facilities for a general examination of elderly people
and tests will be undertaken for haemoglobin estimation, blood pressure, urine,
hearing and vision. No treatment will be given, but the results of tests carried out will
be notified to the general practitioner concerned. Referrals will be made for chest
X-rays and, where appropriate, for chiropody and cervical cytology. In addition,
the patients will be advised on maintaining standards of health and hygiene and on
benefits and aids available to them.
The clinics will be staffed by medical officers having a particular interest in
dietetics, a clinic nurse and an environmental visitor. Patients will be referred by
general practitioners, health visitors and welfare visitors, or they may make direct
application for an appointment.
Mobile Health Clinic
The National Health Service Act, 1946, gave certain powers and duties to
local health authorities, including the prevention of illness and the care and aftercare
of persons suffering from illness. Environmental health measures and vaccination
and immunisation have been largely responsible for the control and eradication of
communicable diseases. However, the early detection and diagnosis of chronic
illnesses has tended to be minimal due mainly to lack of adequate techniques.
The introduction of "Well Women" clinics (see page 24) in 1965 has revealed that
approximately one-third of so called well women seen had some pathology. The Council
therefore agreed to carry out a pilot health survey of the general public by means
of a series of tests using a mobile clinic. Following the agreement of the Inner London
Executive Council and the Inner London Local Medical Committee, Ministry of
Health approval for the survey was given under the Health Visitor and Social Work
(Training) Act, 1962, which permits local authorities to carry out research work.
The survey will consist, for persons aged 16 to 60 years, of:
(1) a social history
a medical history
(2) a series of tests—
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