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Monthly visits are paid in term time by Dr. Jones, assistant principal medical officer, to talk
and discuss with the staff topics associated with the mentally handicapped.
Drug Abuse
The Drugs Advisory Panel composed of professional workers from various Council departments
and other medical and social agencies in the area met on two occasions during the year to consider
the extent of drug abuse in the Hillingdon area. It was concluded that whilst Hillingdon was not
exempt from the general problem of drug abuse in the London area there was no particular local
problem requiring vigorous action. A small focus of heroin abuse was identified during the year and
appropriate preventive action was taken.
The Director of Health Services spoke at a conference at the Hospital Centre concerned with
the problems of drug abuse throughout Greater London. The role of the Drugs Advisory Panel in
Hillingdon was described and some assessment of its effectiveness given. It was concluded that the
panel had made a significant contribution towards a responsible approach to this problem in which
the dangers of over-reaction are very well known. The local press were particularly helpful and featured
an article based on an interview with the Director of Health Services. This was accompanied by
an invitation to those with drug problems in the area to approach the newspaper on a confidential
basis. The negligible response to this approach appeared to confirm the view of the Drugs Advisory
Panel that the present facilities in Hillingdon were responding satisfactorily to the identified need.
HOME DIALYSIS
During 1972 a request was received from a London Hospital for the necessary arrangements
to be made for the installation of equipment so that a resident of the Borough could be provided with
facilities for intermittent haemo-dialysis to be carried out in his own home. The home circumstances
did not permit a room to be adapted for dialysis so a Portakabin Unit had to be provided. This is the
fourth unit to be provided for dialysis patients in the Borough and makes a total of 8 Hillingdon
residents who are now making use of artificial kidney machines within their own home environment.
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS

It will be seen that the number of persons who availed of the recuperative holiday scheme
during 1972 was much smaller than in previous years. There is no clear explanation for this decrease
in numbers although it is likely that some elderly persons who in previous years would have applied
to the Health Department for placement on recuperative holiday are now availing of the services
provided by the social services department and the old persons associations.
Of the 11 adults who were placed on holiday, 9 were assessed to pay the £2.00 per week
minimum accommodation charge while 2 persons paid the maximum charge of £8.40 per week.
A total of 16 patients (8 adults and 8 children) who had applied for recuperative holidays did
not for various reasons proceed with the arrangements.
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