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Problem families
There is a small proportion of families which make
exceptional demands on the resources of the department
because of the multiplicity of their presenting problems.
A central file containing all known information about such
families is maintained in order to provide easier
communication and Mason with members of the Social
Services Department and voluntary agencies such as the
N S P C C who are often also involved with these families.
As a matter of routine, health visitors now bring forward
families about whom they are especially concerned and
these are discussed in detail with the principal nursing
officer. All staff are well aware of the desirability of
prevention rather than cure but where primary prevention
has been impossible the new procedure aims at
(a) Identifying needs and difficulties and then considering
them in the context of the whole family.
(b) Effective use and organisation of resources.
(c) Early referral, where necessary, to other departments
or agencies.
(d) Adequate support to the worker most closely involved
and improved communications between all the
agencies concerned.
Health Education
There has been a considerable increase in the number of
talks, supported by films, given to organisations throughout
the borough. The health education service has been well
served by local press publicity and there has been a most
satisfactory response evidenced by the large number of
citizens who have personally visited the Department to
collect literature on various aspects of health.
Posters concerned with health subjects were regularly
displayed in schools, health centres, clinics, dental surgeries
and factories as well as public notice boards. About 23,000
pamphlets covering a wide variety of health topics were
distributed.
Doctors from seventeen countries visited the health
education service during the year and were informed on our
techniques of planning, research and evaluation.
Students from colleges within the borough, student
nurses from general and mental hospitals, others of various
disciplines and groups of senior school girls who visited the
health centres, clinics and other departmental establishments
were given lectures and shown films.
A description of the service provided for school children
appears on Page 51 of the report.
Home Safety
Mr. Jones, Home Safety Officer reports as follows
The Home Safety Committee continued their efforts over
the past year to reduce the number of accidents which
occurred in, and around, the home. Particular emphasis
has been given to the misuse of fireworks, the misuse of oil
heating applicances, and the dissemination of publicity
material relating to safety in the home.
Continued support has also been given to Guide Units
to provide the instruction and examination relating to
Guide Home Safety qualifications, and to provide speakers
at women's organisations in the borough.
Cervical Cytology
There has been a slight increase in the overall number of
women attending the Council's clinics for primary smear
tests, and three - yearly re-tests. The service is available in
our clinics, generally to all women aged 25 years and over
who live or work in the Borough. Some industrial concerns
co-operated by allowing groups of women employees to
have time off to attend the clinics and at the invitation of
the management a weekly cytology and screening session
was held at a business establishment in the borough over a
period of several weeks. Of the 44 women examined at this
establishment there were no positive smears but 7 women
were referred to their family doctors for gynaecological
and other reasons.
The Council's service continued to provide for threeyearly
re-tests for women who had previously attended for
their primary test and during the year 484 women attended
for this purpose of which 2 produced positive results.
Apart from taking a cervical smear the examination
consisted of routine urine tests, recording of blood pressure,
examination of breasts and bi-manual vaginal examination.
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