View report page

ADVICE CLINICS FOR THE ELDERLY
The two retirement advice clinics in Haringey have functioned regularly throughout the year. The
one situated at Woodside House in the Old People's Centre was for a while transferred to the
School Clinic at Stuart Villa. The other, which is confined to men of retirement age, was held weekly
at Somerset Road Clinic, Tottenham or at Weston Park, Hornsey. On all occasions the clinics were
attended by a medical officer assisted by a clinic nurse. 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.
A good liaison exists with the Ministry of Labour with regard to obtaining part-time employment for men
who have passed retirement age and other agencies for help with social problems or recreational needs
and with G.P.s, chiropodists, etc., should any treatment be required. During 1967 there were 25
sessions in Woodside House/Stuart Villa Clinicat which 8 new cases were seen and 184 re-attendances.
34 sessions were held at Somerset Road and Weston Park clinics, 27 cases being new and 106 reattendances.
SECTION 47, NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948
Although a number of elderly people presented difficult problems, fortunately all were capable of
some kind of improvement through the provision of additional services, and it has not been necessary
to apply for any compulsory removals.
TUBERCULOSIS REHABILITATION
Rehabilitation Workshops
The number admitted for training during the year under review was 9. During the same period 6
of the trainees became sufficiently competent to be placed on the permanent establishment. This was
a very difficult year from the point of view of the workshops' trading. Of the 34 cabinet makers at the
workshops, 8 have been assessed by the chest physicians of being capable of working only four hours
a day. In some cases, the number of hours worked are reduced as a precautionary measure at the
beginning of the winter.
It was found that the amount of orders coming in had fallen off so an illustrated booklet was prepared
and distributed to potential customers and I am pleased to be able to report that the volume of
orders now being received has materially increased.
Discussions have taken place with representatives from the Ministry of Labour regarding ways of
improving the output from the workshops and as a result of advice offered, two additional machines
have been installed which have already proved themselves to be a great asset.
The workshops always create a great interest in people connected with treatment of chest and
heart diseases and visitors are received from many parts of the world who always express a very keen
interest and admiration for the work which is taking place here in Haringey.
Provision of Extra Nourishment for Tubercular Patients
On the recommendation of the Chest Physician, the local authority provides suitable cases with
extra nourishment in the form of high protein food such as milk, dairy products and eggs for persons on
low income suffering from tuberculosis. During the year there were 7 patients receiving this extra
nourishment.
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS
The Council's scheme for recuperative holidays is restricted to those persons who, after illness
or operation, would be most likely to derive benefit by two weeks convalescent holiday in a suitable
home. However, if medical or nursing care is required then this would become a convalescent holiday
and would be arranged through the hospital almoners. It always proves more difficult during the normal
holiday season to secure sufficient suitable placements and there is a natural reluctance on the part of
some patients to go away on holiday other than during the summer. This creates a problem of a heavy
demand in the summer months and under-occupation of some convalescent homes during the winter.
The Council this year accepted financial responsibility for 123 persons in recuperative holiday homes.
Of this number 114 were adults and 9 under school age. In addition to this 37 applicants for recuperative
holidays were not considered eligible under the Council's scheme. 37 children were recommended
under Section 48 of the Education Act 1944 of whom 29 were placed in recuperative holiday homes and
the remainder either cancelled or withdrew.
61