London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Southwark 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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the transport of patients who in the opinion of their general practitioners are unable to
travel to the clinics on their own.
A charge of 4/- a treatment is made to adults and this charge is abatable in cases of
necessity. No charge is made to those who are receiving retirement pensions or social
security benefits.
In addition to the nine Council clinics (APPENDIX B) three voluntary organisations
which are grant aided by the Council (see page 88) provide a chiropody service for the
elderly including domiciliary visits to housebound patients. During the year the voluntary
organisations gave 9,330 clinic treatments and 1,802 domiciliary treatments.
The establishment of chiropodists in the Health Department is 1 chief, 4 senior and
4 basic grade officers; at 31st December 1968, there were 1 chief, 4 senior and 8
sessional chiropodists (f.t.e.—3.4).
During the year 4,142 (4,209) sessions were held at Council clinics and the number of patients attending and treatments given were as follows (where available the figures for 1967 are shown in brackets)
| Ages | 0-4 | 5-14 | Male | Female | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-64 | 65+ | 15-59 | 60+ | ||||
| Persons attending | 4 | 22 | 336 | 1,541 | 1,101 | 6,370 | 9,374 |
| Total attendances | 10 | 39 | 996 | 4,424 | 3,158 | 18,882 | 27,509 |
| (11) | (68) | (1,202) | (4,371) | (3,775) | (18,312) | (27,739) | |
There continues to be a heavy demand for this service, but owing to the difficulty
in recruiting chiropodists it has not been possible to expand the service to meet fully the
needs in the Borough. However, to alleviate the staffing problem, consideration is being
given to a scheme for sponsoring trainee chiropodists and it is hoped this scheme will
start during the coming year.
Artificial Kidney Machines
Early in the year the Department of Health and Social Security gave approval to
local authorities to make arrangements for adaptations or extensions to the homes of
patients to facilitate the installation of artificial kidney machines. A renal dialysis unit
was set up at Dulwich Hospital with the object of making patients proficient in the use of
an artificial kidney machine in their homes after discharge from hospital. Later in the
year the Council co-operated with the hospital authorities in the adaptation for this
purpose of the home of a patient living in Southwark.
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 after-care of
persons suffering from illness. Environmental health measures and vaccination and
immunisation have been largely responsible for the control and eradication of
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