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GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
Hospitals
There is little difference to record in regard to the admission
of cases to hospital from the Borough.
We are still experiencing great difficulty in securing the
admission to hospital or to a home, of chronic, elderly sick. As I
have already mentioned, the population of Southgate is tending to
age. This means that the number of elderly persons in the district
who either live alone or with relatives is increasing year by year.
It has often been stated with great truth that the increased
actuarial expectation of life has brought with it many problems.
Thus it is completely futile to add years on to life, unless these
years can be made at least reasonably comfortable. The picture
of an elderly person remaining relatively uncared for in the community,
possibly suffering pain, extreme discomfort or loneliness,
is highly distressing. Unfortunately, it is a situation which we
meet with pathetic regularity.
Apart from the action which a local authority can take under
Section 47 of the National Assistance Act 1948, there is little we
can do in regard to securing admission to a hospital or a home of
elderly persons for whom there is, quite frankly, no expectancy of
permanent rehabilitation. It will almost be a platitude to state that
the hospitals continue to be understaffed, sometimes to a dangerous
degree. They are therefore only able to cope adequately with acute
cases, where admission to hospital is more or less a necessity.
This leaves a large number of persons, particularly of the type
referred to above, for whom no adequate provision can be made.
I would also state that Southgate seems to be particularly unfortunate
in that we are, so far as elderly persons are concerned,
included in a catchment area which places us at a very definite
disadvantage. I have taken this matter up very strongly with the
special Liaison Committee set up under the auspices of the North
Middlesex Division of the British Medical Association, and have
hopes that the position will shortly be improved.
The setting up of geriatric units in connection with several
large hospitals, to which Southgate patients are admitted, is a
welcome innovation. Where these units have not yet been established,
the Area Health staff, in conjunction with the Public Health
Department, is very willing to undertake the investigation of individual
cases at the request of the hospital concerned. We then
have the opportunity to express opinions based on what is often
an intimate knowledge of the individuals and families involved.
Although we can never guarantee that our reports will secure the
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