View report page

cable diseases. However, the early detection and diagnosis of chronic illnesses has tended
to be minimal due mainly to lack of adequate techniques. Local health authorities have
helped pioneer early disease detection, particularly in the field of maternity and child
welfare and in the school health service.
The Southwark Council in 1965 introduced well women clinics at which full
gynaecological examinations, urine testing, blood pressure testing and breast examinations
were carried out as well as cervical smears taken. In January 1968, advisory and preventive
clinics for the over-sixties were opened. As a logical extension of these measures, the
Council decided to carry out a pilot health survey of the general public of the Borough
by means of a mobile health clinic, believed to be the first scheme of its kind. Consultations
took place with various interested bodies concerned, in particular, the representatives
of the general practitioners, the hospitals and the Department of Health and Social
Security. Approval for this project was given under the Health Visitor and Social Work
(Training) Act, 1962.
The Survey
The survey consists, for persons aged 16—60 years, of:—
(i) social and medical history
(ii) a series of tests namely: haemoglobin estimation, blood pressure, urine, vision,
measurement of height and weight, cervical smear offered to women over 25 years.
(iii) general examination
(iv) X-ray of chest—mass miniature radiography unit in attendance once per week.
The purpose of these tests is to help identify those people who have health and
social problems amenable to some form of treatment. No treatment is given at the clinic,
but the results of all tests are notified to the general practitioner concerned.
The survey is being carried out in a mobile health clinic, which is a twenty-two foot
production line caravan specially fitted to Health Department specifications at a basic
cost of £998. It is towed to various sites in Southwark and is immediately convenient to
the dwellings of those groups taking part, remaining in the locality for one week or more.
It will thus be possible to assess the health of specific groups of the population. Basically,
the accommodation consists of three units; a waiting room, a nurse's working area and a
doctor's consulting room. The staff of the clinic comprises a medical officer, a clinic
nurse and a clinic auxiliary. Local general practitioners take an active part in the running
of the clinic.
The Patients
The smooth flow of patients is essential in a scheme of this nature and in order to
achieve this aim and to reduce inconvenience to the patient to a minimum an appointments
system is in operation. Appointments are made by health visitors and nursing staff
who call on homes in the area selected. Male and female patients are seen on separate days.
A copy of the confidential records is sent to the patient's general practitioner.
The clinic opened on 18 November, 1968 and in the five weeks it was operating in
this year 224 people attended and 127 of them were referred to their general practitioner
for some disability or for the result of the smear test.
36