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is one of the drawbacks produced by the National Health Act 1948
when hospitals previously under the control of local authorities
were brought under the direction of Regional Hospital Boards.
Previous to 1948, our relations with local authority hospitals
were close and cordial. I must add, of course, that my own relations
with the staff of surrounding hospitals leave nothing to be
desired. But there must come a time when the present generation
of Medical Officers of Health have passed, and when, presumably,
the gap between the local authorities and the hospitals serving
their districts is not so close as it still is today One can
only hope that this day is still distant, but it is a possibility
which one cannot avoid.
Care of the Aged
It would indeed be a truism to say that care of the aged is
assuming a significance which demands the most urgent attention.
In a district such as Wood Green, with its aging population - the
fact that 70% of total deaths occurred in persons over the age of
65 is evidence of this situation - care of the aged assumes particular
importance.
The Public Health Department is always prepared to help in
every way possible, while, of course, the Area Health Office is
intimately associated through its Health Visitors Home Helps and
Home Nursing Service, with aged persons. I personally have looked
forward eagerly to the day when the Old People' s Centre in Wood
Green would be functioning.
In this connection, I have for some time been considering
the possibility of setting up an Old Persons Clinic in Wood Green,
a project for which the Old People's Centre might be ideally
suited. Old Persons' Clinics at which advice can be given and
even certain medical examinations carried out, have already proved
their worth, especially when run in conjunction with an established
geriatric service. I am of opinion that this type of project
calls for careful consideration, although I do not yet know whether
or not the Old People s Centre could be used for such a purpose.
This, however, is a matter which would naturally require discussion
and consultations at a later date.
In the meantime the Public Health Department and the Area
Health Office are continuing their efforts to alleviate distress
and ill-health among the aged. It is quite obvious that much
remains to be done. Housing for the aged - and Wood Green is
already making its contribution - admission of the chronic sick
to hospital, an adequate service of Home Helps, by no means an
easy matter, the provision of Home Nurses, visits from Health
Visitors and Public Health Inspectors - these are the obvious
ways in which we can be of practical help. I would make it clear,
however,that care of the aged is a problem intimately associated
with public health and preventive medicine and that we are always
ready and willing to be of assistance at any time and in any way.
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