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The appointment of a Geriatric Liaison Officer, mentioned in 1966 as an
innovation, has I think proved of value and has improved the already existing
good relationship with geriatricians and family doctors.
During the year the department took part in a pilot scheme of investigation
into the incidence of accidental hypothermia in the elderly and its real
significance. The results showed the need for further research.
Shortages of staff, e.g. home helps and chiropodists, have unfortunately
created problems, and the medico-social assessment centre for the over sixties
at Oxlow Lane Clinic was unable to function satisfactorily because of shortage
of appropriate medical staff.
The school health service received attention during the year. One change
was made to bring the service more into line with current practice. Selective
medical examination of school leavers was further extended to replace the old
routine school examination of every child, which is so uneconomical in terms of
medical manpower. In this method of working, only those children are examined
who as a result of a questionnaire to parents, or on request by teachers, are
found by the school medical officer to need an examination. Linked with
periodic screening for defects of hearing and vision, this can be relied on to
uncover any important defects in these days when most children are seen much
more frequently by their own doctor than used to be the case. Though this new
method has not been found to produce a saving in medical manpower, it is hoped
to extend it to other age groups because of its effectiveness.
The school dental service merits special mention. It too has made steady
progress during 1967, and though I must refer to the main body of the report
anyone interested in the detail, the use of dental auxiliaries merits special
mention.
I must finally draw attention to the shortage of health visitors as a
serious long-term difficulty which merits a stepping-up of our efforts to
recruit students for training and the use of ancilliaries to assist the health
visitor in carrying out her functions.
Many more developments were in process of planning or were beginning to
take place than I have mentioned in this short introduction to the annual report
for 1967, most of which will be contained in the main body of the report.
I must in conclusion thank all the staff of the department - medical and
lay - for their help during 1967, and the Health Committee its Chairman,
Vice-Chairman and Members for their support and co-operation during the year.
J. ADRIAN GILLET
Medical Officer of Health
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