London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Haringey 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE
The total number of cases provided with home help during the year was 2630. The bulk of the work
continued to be among the aged sick, who needed permanent help.
The total number of visits made by the Home Help Organiser and her assistants during the year was
4938. Of this number, 1341 were in respect of new cases.
The number of home helps in employment at the end of the year was 218 (equivalent to 137 full-time).
The following table shows details of cases served during the year-
| Cases provided with help during the year | Number of new cases provided with help | Number of old cases for which help was continued from 1965 | Total number of cases provided with help | Total number of cases still being provided with help at end of year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or over at time of first visit during year | 584 | 1599 | 2183 | 1610 |
| Aged under 65 on first visit during year: Chronic sick and tuberculosis | 69 | 138 | 207 | 145 |
| Maternity | 94 | 5 | 99 | 1 |
| Others | 102 | 39 | 141 | 43 |
| Totals | 849 | 1781 | 2630 | 1799 |
Neighbourly Help Service
This service continues to function satisfactorily, but we have not been successful in obtaining the
services of many Good Neighbours. At the end of the year only two cases were being helped.
ADVISORY CLINICS FOR THE ELDERLY
There are two Retirement Advice Clinics in Haringey, both started by previous local authorities.
One is held fortnightly in a room in the Old People's Centre at Woodside House, Wood Green; the other,
which is confined to men of retirement age, is held weekly at Somerset Road Clinic, Tottenham or at
Weston Park Clinic, Hornsey. A medical officer and a clinic nurse are present at each. Advice is
provided on health and dietary matters, and medical examinations are carried out as and when the consent
of the old people is obtained. There is frequent contact with the Ministry of Labour with regard to part-time
employment, other agencies for help with social problems or recreational needs, and with general
practitioners, chiropodists etc. should any treatment be required.
During the year there was close consultation with geriatricians in local hospitals regarding improved
case notes to be introduced in 1967. Consideration was also given to increasing and widening the sales
of the dietary supplement, Complan, which is at present available in one clinic. This is useful in the
prevention of deficiency diseases in the elderly.
During 1966 there were 24 sessions in Woodside House Clinic, at which nine new cases were seen
and 178 who re-attended. 34 sessions were held at Somerset Road and Weston Park Clinics, 34 cases
being new and 71 re-attendances.
SECTION 47 NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT 1948
One of the most distressing duties of a health department is the compulsory removal of a reluctant,
infirm old person to a hospital or a home under the powers of this Section. Everything possible is done
to encourage the individual to accept help before coercion is employed.
Action was considered in a number of cases during the year, but it is pleasant to be able to report
that sufficient co-operation was obtained in all of them to render it unnecessary.
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