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Statistics
Total number of new patients seen 2,053
Total number of patients seen (including new
patients) 6,241
Total number of attendances 14,567
Number of cervical smears taken 2,676
Total number of clinic sessions 816
Domiciliary Service
The Authority had decided in August, 1971, to extend the Domiciliary
Service. It had always been felt that this was a most important
aspect of family planning, since it provides a service to families under
great stress who have real need of advice on family planning, but
who would not avail themselves of the normal service provided at
Family Planning Clinics, or by their own family doctors. This had
expanded so quickly that by the end of 1972 59 cases had been
referred.
Geriatric Service
I am indebted to Dr. Peter Millard, the Borough's Consultant
Physician in Geriatrics, for the following report on this service:—
'During 1972, 525 elderly people were referred for the first time
to the Geriatric Service. Not all of these were admitted, some have
been seen as out-patients, at the Day Hospital or on a domiciliary visit
only. There were 656 admissions and 422 discharges from the beds of
the department. Of those admitted 139 died and 95 were in-patients
on the 1st January, 1973. Of these, 31 are liable to be long stay hospital
patients. There were 15 discharges to Part III homes.
'The work load of the Day Hospital is continuing to increase.
A total of 133 new patients attended the Day Hospital and transport
was provided for 5,658 attendances during the year. Difficulties arise
in running the service for the area because of the scattered nature of
the hospital beds but in spite of this at the time of writing the waiting
list of admissions to the department from the community is nil, and it
is rare for somebody requiring admission from their own home to have
to wait more than three days.
'Closer links have been developed between the Health and Social
Services Departments of the Borough thus enabling us to provide for
the elderly of Merton a service geared to their needs.'
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