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PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE
AND AFTER-CARE
Clinic for Older People
This service was started in May, under Dr. Joan Ferreira. Persons
over the age of 55 years who live in the Borough can attend, providing
their own doctors agree and that they are not currently under treatment
for an illness. A full medical examination is given and a search
is made for disease which may be in an early stage without causing
symptoms, for example, cancer of the breast and cervix, diabetes,
anaemia and glaucoma. A chest X-ray is arranged and a hearing test
done. A report is sent to the family doctor, with whom the clinic
doctor aims to work as closely as possible.
Patients who have some disorder or disability which cannot be
cured, can be helped by a full discussion of how best to look after it.
Others who are experiencing difficulty in adapting to changes in themselves
or their circumstances as they grow older, find they are not
alone in this and respond well to the reassurance and support the clinic
is able to give.
Patients are seen again a year after the first visit, and are given
another diagnostic examination. They are seen between these visits
according to need.
There is no doubt that there is a demand for this kind of clinic,
as shown by the length of the waiting list, which by December, 1967,
was about three months.
Unnecessary fears are relieved when everything is found to be
satisfactory, and people say they feel better for coming. Many opportunities
arise for the promotion of health and the maintenance of the
well-being of the patient, which it is the task of the clinic staff to
develop.
Dr. Ferreira reports as follows on the work of this clinic during
the year:—
'The first clinic was held at Amity Grove on 3rd May,
1967. A few older people known to the health visitors, such as
clinic voluntary workers, health department staff and home helps
were invited to attend. From this beginning the clinic grew
quickly. Friends, neighbours and husbands of the first patients
asked for appointments, and there was also a steady flow of
applications from members of the Council of Women and the
Workers' Educational Association. About 10% of patients have
been referred directly from their own doctors (most of these
have come from one group practice).
As far as time would allow, contact was made at the outset
with the surrounding doctors to discuss the aims of the clinic.
It is proposed to follow this up with another visit when the
clinic has been running a year, and to seek suggestions for further
co-operation and improvement in the service. Every doctor
has a letter informing him that his patient has asked for an
appointment at the clinic before this is given, so that he has a
chance of disagreeing (none have done so). After the examination
a full report is sent to the family doctor.
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