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45
Home Visiting
During the year 2,907 home visits were made by the tuberculosis
visitors attached to the clinics. Their work includes advice on the home
care of patients, the encouragement of known contacts to attend the
clinic for X-Ray and medical supervision and general advice on care and
after-care arrangements. They also act as clinic sisters at diagnostic and
treatment sessions in the Chest Clinics.
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapist based at the Chest Clinic works in close
co-operation with the Clinic's Medical Staff, Medical Social Worker and
Health Visitors. Her duties include home visits to long-term home-bound
patients as well as terminal cases, and running a weekly class in the Clinic
for those patients fit enough to attend. A new venture this year was a trip
to Windsor by car which was greatly enjoyed by everyone.
B.C.G. Vaccination
Vaccination against tuberculosis (B.C.G.) is offered to contacts of
known cases of tuberculosis, thirteen-year-old school children and
students of further education establishments. The numbers vaccinated
during the year 1969 were as follows :-
Contact Scheme 217
School Children and Students 1,685
The total number of persons on the tuberculosis register for the
district on 31st December, 1969 was 1,924 as compared with 1,958 on
31st December, 1968.
Advisory Clinics for the Elderly
The weekly advisory clinics for the elderly held at the Broadway
Clinic, Wealdstone and the Tenby Road Clinic, Edgware continued during
the year. A third clinic was started in April at Kenmore Road Clinic and
already seems to be serving a useful purpose in that part of the Borough.
These clinics offer advice on personal health problems, diet, accident
prevention and social welfare. Any person found on examination to have a
condition requiring further investigation or treatment is referred with a
letter, to his own medical practitioner.
Referrals to the clinics come from health visitors, chiropodists,
W.R.V.S. Clubs, and through other persons already attending the clinics.
Transport to the clinic is arranged by voluntary services and referrals from
the clinics are made to other services including chiropody, home helps,
home nursing and meals-on-wheels.
140 new cases were seen during the year. The total number on the
register was 168 and a total of 389 visits were made during the year.