View report page

Social Medicine
As in 1967 the number of patients referred to the Health Visitor still show an increase.
The numbers dealt with are not included in the overall volume of work carried out.
Education
Postgraduate Education has continued in many ways—by tape recordings, films and
discussions at our periodical luncheons and by meetings of various medical bodies.
Undergraduate Education the Sir Haliey Stewart Trust Studentship Scheme was
completed in January, 1968 and proved to be a great success. Further grants have kindly
been offered by the Trust and it is hoped to organise more studentships in the near future.
The local general practitioners continue to demonstrate their interest and enthusiasm
and it is obvious by the increasing number of patients attending the Centre that the services
available are much appreciated by general practitioners and patients.
STAFF MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
A senior medical officer, with nursing assistance, is responsible for the medical examination
of new entrants to the staff and in certain circumstances of sick personnel.
The following table gives details of this work.
New Entrants Officers
Manual
Workers
Medical questionnaires 636 1,293
Medical examinations 133 424
Medical examination of staff absent from duty due to sickness 60 810
Medical questionnaires for assessing the fitness of applicants for employment are used
in the Borough and of the 1,929 questionnaires scrutinised a full medical examination of
the applicant was necessary in 557 cases.
CHEST CLINICS
The three chest clinics in the Borough are situated at St. Giles' Hospital, Bermondsey
Health Centre, and the Health Services Department, Larcom Street: the two latter clinics
have the same Tuberculosis Care Committee. The Council reimburses the hospital service
a portion of the chest physicians' salary and provides health visitors, social workers, occupational
therapists and administrative staff.
Advice and assistance were given to patients with personal, domestic, occupational
and hygiene problems. Domiciliary visits were made and extra nourishment (milk, butter
and eggs) was given to necessitous cases on the recommendation of the chest physician:
17 cases were assisted compared with 27 in 1967.
I am pleased to report that no occasion arose during the year on which it was found
necessary to board out children because of infection in their homes or in the absence of
parents receiving residential treatment for tuberculosis.
87