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destination address at ports of arrival and
these are forwarded to the medical officer of
health All the addresses situated in the
borough are visited by public health inspectors
who advise the immigrants on how to use the
national health service If the immigrant is
accompanied by a child the address is visited
by a health visitor
Destination addresses in this borough were
given oy 853 immigrants but in 247 cases it
was found that the immigrant had not arrived
at the address given
Fever Hospital
The Borough is served by the South Middlesex
Hospital but on occasions accommodation in
other fever hospitals may be used During the
year 130 patients from the borough were
admitted as suffering from or suspected to be
suffering from infectious disease Close
contact is maintained between the hospital and
the department of health so that any necessary
action can be taken without delay
Disinfection
Where necessary disinfection of rooms is
carried out by the department During the year
10 rooms were disinfected and one lot of
clothing was similarly treated before being
sent abroad
Cleansing of Verminous Persons and their
Clothing
No steam disinfecting or cleansing centre is
provided in this borough but arrangements
have continued for the use of the Disinfecting
Station and Medicinal Baths. Scotts Road,
Sheperds Bush W 12 , provided by the London
Borough of Hammersmith The borough council
accepts financial responsibility for residents
referred to the centre
During 1968 24 persons were treated and
in addition, bedding and clothing was
disinfected in 5 cases
Venereal Diseases
The spread of venereal disease is unfortunately
increasing in this country and any person
male or female who suspects that he or she
is suffering from any of these diseases, should
seek immediate advice and treatment Clinics
are available for both male and female patients
at West Middlesex. Central Middlesex Hillington
and West London Hospitals and many other London
hospitals where examinations and treatment are
given in complete privacy
While there is no doubt that competent treatment
can control infections the total incidence continues
to grow because of the increase in casual relationships
which modern society permits The best
prospects for control probably lie with the education
and instruction of young people in the serious nature
and consequences of these infections The health
department is able to provide speakers films and
other information for the general public and for
special groups, particularly youth clubs and adult
groups If sexual diseases continue to spread as
seems likely then it is in no one s interest to
remain ignorant about them
Young people of today are more mature physically
than those of previous generations and sexual
activity begins earlier and is much more freely
discussed Much needs to be learned about what
motives the young person in regard to the pattern
of his sexual behaviour although there are indications
that some adolescents act out their problems
blindly vis a-vis society In trying to encourage
young, people to make their own decisions society
has moderated the strictures that helped to prevent
them from harming themselves and it now behoves
us to be much more watchful for those needing help
during the adolescent period It is unfortunate that
teenage sexuality is often unduly stimulated by
the content of commercial advertising mass media
and current entertainment Furthermore everyone
of us must be aware of the increasingly permissive
attitude being adopted in family life towards boy
and girl relationships
Unfortunately, modern methods of contraception
which provide no element of mechanical protection
may therefore for several reasons favour the spread
of gonorrhea and non-gonococcal urethritis
As no adequate prophylactic treatment is yet
available it can only be re-emphasised that there is
still no alternative at present to the avoidance of
promiscuity in its true sense both pre-and extra
maritally
Vaccination and Immunisation - Section 26
Vaccination and immunisation is provided jointly
by family doctors and local health authority
services
The local health authority still has the
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