London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bexley 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bexley]
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Special clinics were opened in 1966 at three of the Child Welfare Centres at which all women
aged between 25 and 65 were encouraged to attend. Cervical cytology is also carried at Queen
Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, and by the Family Planning Association at its clinics at Erith and Bexley.
To encourage women to have this test, a number of industrial concerns employing large
numbers of women were approached and arrangements made for the test to be performed at a
temporary clinic established in the factory premises and manned by medical and nursing staff of
the department and the firms concerned. The co-operation and assistance of these firms is very
much appreciated.
The following table shows the number of women dealt with each year through the above arrangements.
| 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Authority Clinics | ||||
| Colyers Lane, Erith | 767 | 889 | 850 | 1076 |
| The Oval, Sidcup | 731 | 692 | 756 | 958 |
| Sidcup Hill, Sidcup | 619 | 749 | 237 | 784 |
| Other (non-local authority Clinics, G.P.'s, Industry, etc.) | 1620 | 1400 | 1380 | 3085 |
| TOTAL | 3737 | 3730 | 3223 | 5903 |
| The following table shows the number of women dealt with each year through the above arrangements. | ||||
The specimens taken at the clinics are sent to special laboratories at Orpington or Joyce Green
Hospitals. In addition to cancer the test occasionally reveals some less serious condition of which
the patient may be unaware and in these cases information is passed to the patient's own doctor
and the patient is advised to consult him regarding further treatment.
The following table shows a break down of the results of the smears taken at the local authority clinics.
| 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total smears examined | 2115 | 2320 | 1821 | 2798 |
| Positive for cancer | 3 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Revealing other condition | 210 | 636 | 444 | 725 |
| Normal | 1902 | 1677 | 1369 | 2067 |
| No smear taken | 2 | 10 | 22 | 20 |
The following table of deaths from cancer shows the commoner sites of the disease
| Site | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malignant Neoplasm | |||||
| Stomach | 37 | 49 | 47 | 33 | 38 |
| Intestine | - | - | - | - | 57 |
| Lung and Bronchus | 115 | 132 | 127 | 138 | 140 |