View report page

Venereal Disease
There is no special clinic in the borough. It would, however, appear that most
patients attend the Prince of Wales' Hospital in Tottenham. In their efforts to
preserve anonymity 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 979 new patients attended hospital clinics
during the year, an increase over the figure of 701 last year.
The borough shares with a neighbouring borough the services of a medical
social worker based at 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.
Advice Clinics for the Elderly (Geriatric Clinics)
Four sessions are held each month; of these, three take place in council clinics
and the other at the premises of the Old People's Welfare Committee, Southgate.
Referrals are received from general practitioners, health visitors, and from other
sources.
The aim of the clinics is to provide advice to retired persons, or those about to
retire. This includes advice about the preservation of good health; the achievement
of a balanced diet; budgeting on a small income; exercise, accommodation, the
problems of loneliness and the importance of recreational activities.
The clinics are staffed by one of the Council's medical officers, and a
health visitor or clinic nurse. Persons attending the clinic for the first time are
medically examined and those requiring treatment are referred to their family doctor.
During the year 38 persons made a total of 179 attendances. At the end of the year
the future role and objective of these clinics was under review.
Smokers' Clinics
Five courses of five weekly evening sessions were held. Ninety-four persons paid
263 visits, an average of three visits per person.
Nineteen persons achieved full attendance and ten attended four sessions. The
average attendance per session was eleven.
Twenty-one persons claimed to have stopped smoking and ten claimed to have
reduced the amount they smoked, at the end of their course.
The sessions of approximately two hours' duration were devoted to lectures,
film shows, group discussions and the use of the Wright Peak Flow Meter.
48