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Venereal Disease
There is no special clinic in the borough, the nearest being that at the Prince of
Wales' Hospital in Tottenham at which a majority of Enfield patients appear to
attend. In their efforts to preserve anonymity, however, some patients tend to
present themselves at clinics far removed from their home district but figures of
incidence are available from London hospitals in respect of Enfield patients. A total
of 701 known new patients attended these hospital clinics during the year, a
considerable increase over the figure of 440 last year.
Ministry of Health Circular 38/68 enclosed a memorandum on the Control of
Venereal Disease which had been prepared with the agreement of the Standing
Medical Advisory Committee. The memorandum discussed and analysed the problems
of treatment and control of venereal disease and emphasised, with advice as
to procedure, the vital importance of swift tracing of contacts to break the chain
of infection. Responsibility for epidemiological control by contact tracing rests with
the medical officer of health, and the Ministry Circular asked local health authorities
to co-operate with hospital authorities in making effective arrangements for contact
tracing.
These arrangements were strengthened by the National Health Service (Venereal
Disease) Regulations, 1968, which came into operation on 2nd December, 1968.
Similar regulations made twenty years previously and concerned with confidentiality
were amended to permit disclosure of information to authorised persons and so
facilitate treatment and contact tracing.
During the year the borough continued to share with two of its neighbours the
services of a medical social worker based on the Special Clinic at the Prince of Wales'
Hospital. Her duties are to trace contacts, follow-up treatment defaulters, and assist
patients in meeting social problems.
Despite health education carried out over a number of years the incidence of
venereal disease continues to cause anxiety; in this connection the Chief Medical
Officer of the Department of Health and Social Security wrote to Medical Officers
of Health in November to draw attention to the worsening incidence of venereal
disease and the need to intensify health education and contact tracing.
Advice Clinics for the Elderly (Geriatric Clinics)
Four sessions are held each month, three of these taking place in council clinics
and one at the premises of the Old People's Welfare Committee, Southgate. Persons
entitled to retirement pensions are informed by their local branch of the Department
of Health and Social Security that these facilities exist. Referrals are also received
from general practitioners, health visitors, and from a variety of other sources.
The aim of the clinics is to provide advice to retired persons, or those about
to retire. This includes advice regarding the preservation of good health, the
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