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PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE
AND AFTER-CARE
Clinic for Older People
The Clinic at Amity Grove, which was only started in 1967, was
found to be insufficient for the greatly increased demand and, as a
result, a second clinic was opened in April at Middleton Road under
Dr. W. James.
As in the previous year, it was found that most of the people
attending the clinics did so from the preventive point of view.
At Amity Grove 58 new patients attended, the average age being
60 years. Fifteen were men and 43 women. There were 258 reattendances.
The corresponding figures for Middleton Road, which
was open for eight months of the year, were: new attendances 48, 11
men and 37 women. The average age was 61 years.
Health Education
Health Education progressed well during 1968. Many more
teachers requested help in furthering education in this field and requests
of this kind were always encouraged and assistance given.
Slides illustrating many aspects of the work of the Health Department
have been shown extensively to schools and to members of
various organisations in the Borough. Judging by the lively sessions
of questions and comments which followed, they have created great
interest as well as furthering public knowledge.
Topical subjects are illustrated at regular intervals both in the
clinics and in the entrance hall of the Health Department. The cooperation
of health visitors and clinic staff in helping with these
displays is invaluable.
It is hoped during the coming year to improve on the facilities
we have to offer both to members of our own staff and other visitors
requesting our aid.
General
The Health Education Section worked with the Mental Health
Section to organise activities during Mental Health Week with the
aim of promoting a better understanding of mental illness and handicap
and in stimulating a greater awareness of the value of mental
wellbeing and the necessity to conserve it.
Education for childbirth and parenthood met with an excellent
response from the couples invited to attend these classes. The talks
and demonstrations given by health visitors, midwives and general
practitioners, covering a wide aspect of parenthood, including the
father's role, and safety measures to look for when buying the pram,
cot, etc.
In-Service Training Courses for health visitors and midwives to
instruct them in the correct use of projectors were successfully carried
out.
Assistance in the form of lectures and films on specific subjects
were given to the Home Help Section for the In-Service Training
Courses arranged for the Home Help personnel.
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