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PERSONAL HEALTH
Specialist Clinic
Referrals
Children suffering from defects were referred to clinics as follows:
Ophthalmic: 204 new cases; 700 attendances; 80 prescribed spectacles.
Ear, Nose and Throat: 37 new cases; 75 attendances. Orthoptic: 72 new
cases; 707 attendances. Orthopaedic: 64 new cases; 126 attendances.
Speech : 67 new cases; 934 attendances. Audiometric testing: 96 special
tests; 40 found to have a hearing loss.
Clinic Premises
Of the twenty premises in the borough used for clinics, fourteen are purposebuilt,
four are adapted premises and two are rented premises.
In November all the services provided at Hertford Road Clinic were transferred
to the new health centre in Forest Road. The old clinic, which consisted
of adapted premises, was then closed.
The Ten-Year Plan contains proposals for the replacement by purpose-built
premises of two clinics at present in adapted premises, and of one clinic
at present held in rented premises. There is also provision in the later years
of the plan for additional health premises in the Winchmore Hill area and
for the replacement, also by purpose-built health premises, of two more
clinics now held in adapted premises.
Welfare Foods and
Vitamin Supplements
The distribution of dried milk, cod liver oil, orange juice and vitamin tablets
on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Security, as part of the
Welfare Foods Service, continued at the Council's clinics and at a W.R.V.S.
centre. The following issues (total value nearly £6,300) were made:
National dried milk, 4,649 tins; Cod liver oil, 2,434 bottles; Vitamin tablets,
3,159 packets; Orange juice, 76,709 bottles.
In addition, various brands of proprietary dried milk, cereals and vitamin
preparations, recommended by medical officers and health visitors in
particular cases, were available at clinics, and the total sales amounted
to £16,420.
Dental Care
The number of attendances by expectant and nursing mothers and children
under five years of age was similar to last year's figure, but it is gratifying
to note that there were greater opportunities for fillings as opposed to
extractions.
This suggests that the talks and advice on oral hygiene given to mothers
are having some beneficial effect.
Care of the
Unsupported Mother
and Her Child
Although the majority of unsupported mothers are unmarried, occasionally
a married woman for some reason or other finds herself without support.
The services of a medical social worker, shared with a neighbouring
borough, are available to help in such cases.
There are no local authority mother and baby homes in the borough. Use
is, therefore, made of homes run by other authorities and by voluntary
societies.
Of the sixty-three cases referred during 1970 through various channels,
eighteen were admitted to mother and baby homes and arrangements were
made for some of those remaining to be admitted at an appropriate time.
In addition, seven of the cases referred during the previous year were
admitted in 1970. The general trend is a moderate reduction in the number
of cases referred, and a marked reduction in the number of cases admitted
to homes.
Where it is the wish of the mother to have the baby adopted, application is
made to registered adoption agencies.