London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington and Chelsea 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
- 38 -
Details of examinations and findings are as follows:-
| 1967 | 1966 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of examinations by Council's ophthalmologist | 123 | 126 |
| Number of hospital certificates accepted | 22 | 44 |
| Number of new cases registered blind | 47 | 66 |
| Number of new cases registered partially-sighted | 38 | 39 |
| Re-examinations - | ||
| Number previously registered blind and now found to be partially sighted | 2 | 2 |
| Number previously registered partially | ||
| sighted and now found to be blind | 5 | 14 |
| Number previously registered blind or partially sighted and now found to be not registerable | Nil | 1 |
| Number examined and no change found in category | 52 | 45 |
CERVICAL CYTOLOGY.
Throughout 1967, clinics for the taking of cervical smears have been
held fortnightly at three of the Council's welfare centres in the north,
centre and south of the borough respectively,
The number of sessions held has been adequate to allow of early
appointments being given to all who seek them but, despite publicity,
both locally and nationally, and the efforts of pressure groups and
health educators, attendances throughout 1967 have been disappointing.
At the sixty-eight sessions, each designed to accommodate twelve
to fifteen, held during the year, between 800 and 1,000 women could have
been examined, but only 390 attended, an average of only six per session.
It seems that women, especially those in the "high risk" groups,
are reluctant to come forward for examination. The poor response is not
confined to this borough, but appears to be nation wide and some local
authorities have had to discontinue clinics where attendances have been
very low.
1967
1966
Total number of sessions held 68 54
Total number of women examined 390 433
Total number of negative results 388 375
Total number of positive results 2 6
Both women found to have positive cervical smears were referred
immediately to their own doctors for further investigation and
subsequently underwent surgical treatment in hospital.
Apart from women examined at the Council's centres, there are
others who attend cytological clinics provided by the Royal Marsden
Hospital, or the Family Planning Association, or have the smear taken
by their own general practitioners. There are also those who have
routine smears taken when attending hospital gynaecological and
ante-natal clinics.