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39
Advisory Clinic for the Elderly
The advisory clinic for the elderly opened in 1963 at the Broadway
Clinic, Wealdstone, continued to function during the year. The general
theme is the giving of advice on healthy living. The elderly very often
become very set in their way of life and are extremely suspicious of any
change. This often results in making everyday life quite a struggle. The
only way to find out about their difficulties is first of all to try and gain
their confidence through the informal interview. The chat over a cup of
tea usually produces much valuable data and often opens the door to
the reception of helpful advice on personal health problems, diet, accident
prevention and social welfare. A medical examination is offered but no
medical treatment is given. If any condition thought to require attention
is found on examination, the patient is referred with a letter to his own
medical practitioner.
At the end of the year, there were 67 on the clinic register and a total
of 204 attendances were made to the clinic. The good response to follow-up
attendances seems to strengthen the general comment that this type of
service is appreciated. The main advantage being the fact that it offers a
quiet, unhurried atmosphere, where there is plenty of time to listen and
to examine—probably fundamental for any service dealing with the elderly.
Summary of advice given at the clinic:—
Referred to general practitioner 17
Referred to chiropodist 6
Referred to optician 6
Referred to Old People's Welfare (Holiday) 1
Referred to Health Department (Home Help) 1
Advised about diet 12
Reassurance about state of health 24
A new purpose-built clinic is expected to open in 1966 in Tenby Road,
Edgware, and plans are in preparation to set up a second advisory clinic
for the elderly at this centre.
Venereal Disease
The special services Medical Social Worker dealing with the care of
the unsupported mother and child is also responsible for the follow-up of
defaulters from the venereal disease clinic at Central Middlesex Hospital
and any contact tracing that may be necessary in the area.
Section 29—Home Help Service
The calls made on this service during the year were once again
extremely heavy, so much so that a word of praise must be given to the
Home Help Organiser and her assistant, who have coped very well in their
efforts to apportion their staff of domestic helps to the various types of