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The total of new Haringey cases suffering from sexually transmitted diseases in 1971 was 7,149. Twenty three
point four per cent, i.e. less than a quarter, attended the clinic in Haringey. If the clinics in boroughs bordering
on Haringey are included, 76.6 per cent were seen in Haringey or its environs. Perhaps because of good
communications to the south and west, 1,509 (21.1 per cent) attended clinics in Westminster, the City of London,
and Tower Hamlets. The River Thames is evidently a significant boundary as only 65 crossed to clinics on the
other side.
A most encouraging development with great promise for the future was the appointment during the year of a V.D.
Contact Tracer, who has already undertaken much useful work in limiting the spread of these diseases by following
up contacts and arranging for them to be examined and treated.

Renal Dialysis
Arrangements for adaptation of homes for the installation of artificial kidney machines were approved by the
Minister of Health in January, 1968. Since that time thirteen homes in Haringey have been adapted, three during
the year 1971. There is no doubt that the availability of renal dialysis to patients in their own homes has
contributed considerably to the happiness and well being of the patients and their families and has enabled the
Kidney Units in hospitals to offer treatment to an increased number of patients. So far as the community is
concerned the cost of maintaining a patient at home is considerably less than if the treatment has to take place
completely within the hospital. Hospital authorities provide and maintain the haemodialysis equipment and
provide the relevant medical services and instruct the patient in the day to day care and maintenance of the
equipment. They also pay for the extra cost of electricity as well as for the installation and rental of a telephone
where necessary. Installation of the equipment normally requires a room not less than about 10 ft. x 12 ft.
which is suitable for a single bed and the dialysis equipment. Space for a sink with a good supply of hot and cold
water, a water softener, electricity supply and storage space for sterile dressings and concentrated fluids must also
be allowed for. The walls and ceiling are made washable and free of cracks and the flooring is covered with a
sealed waterproof covering which is extended up the walls and the raised threshold, installed at the door. These
adaptations which include special connections to the sewerage system are currently costing approximately £400
each.
During the year one room, the first to be adapted in the Borough (in 1968) had considerable work carried out to
bring the room up to present day standards.
HEALTH EDUCATION
In Schools
Health Education programmes continue in the schools and arouse interest in both teachers and pupils. This is
seen by the many requests for the section to participate in the school curriculum and the increased use of the
section's audio-visual aids. A revised audio-visual aid catalogue was produced to assist schools.
Once health education has been introduced in the syllabus it is encouraging to see that it remains on the timetable,
although encouraging this throws increased demand on the health education officer's time and it is not always
possible to provide other departmental personnel to participate in school programmes. To assist teachers to carry
out health education in schools the section arranged a series of eight talks, at the Teachers' Centre in the Spring
Term. The aims of the talks were to give teachers information on the medical/social problems of today, to discuss
their presentation within the school curriculum and emphasize the Services and audio-visual aids available in the
Borough.
Speakers were drawn from the Health Department, Marriage Guidance Council and the Family Planning
Association.
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