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HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
ELMFIELD HOUSE,
HIGH STREET,
TEDDINGTON,
MIDDLESEX.
June, 1968.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for 1967.
As previously envisaged the controlled expansion of the activities of the health
department has continued. The details are contained in the succeeding pages. The
significance of much of the work carried out during the year will unfold in subsequent
Annual Reports.
A view is held that the medicine practised outside the walls of the hospital could
be termed as community medicine involved in the "world of the well". The family
doctor and the local socio-medical services are deeply concerned in the seeking out of
disease and disorder, the prevention of ill-health, and the care and support of the
stricken patient in the community setting.
Medical "checks" and screening techniques are the practical implementation of the
philosophy behind the concept of the presymptomatic diagnosis of disease.
During the year "well women" clinics were established throughout the Borough.
Cervical cytology facilities in the hospitals were such that a higher throughput of
pathological data could be handled. It was felt that if a female resident should wish
to avail herself of this service, then she should have the benefit of a full physical
examination and other screening procedures in addition to the "cervical smear". Hence
"well women" clinics were established. In passing it should be pointed out that the
individual concerned could present herself to her personal medical attendant for such
a consultation, should she so desire.
On your instructions a clinic for the elderly was started in Richmond, and a
further two at Barnes and Hampton were in an advanced state of preparation at the
end of the year.
Community medicine has a heavy role in the field of the mentally disordered, and
the elderly infirm. Some of the problems of these groups are not economically
rewarding to the hospital treatment service and clinical beds can be occupied on social
grounds after the disease condition has been ameliorated.
The "when" and the "how" of the diagnosis of mental retardation in a child can
be an emotionally traumatising situation for the parents so concerned. The extremes
of parental reaction can be either rejection or over-protection of the child. Whatever
place in the emotional spectrum the parents take up, they need a "listening ear" for all
the ensuing facets of care and support. With this need in mind, counselling clinics
with a socio-medical team in attendance were set up and have been well received. It is
hoped the range of advice for subnormal children will be extended to include adults.
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