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"Any woman whose health in the opinion of the examining doctor,
would be expected to suffer by the increased mental, physical
or social burden placed on her by pregnancy."
It is clear that in the context of a family planning service the
distinction between health and social reasons is an extremely
fine one.
Whereas, throughout 1971, the Authority's arrangements with the
Family Planning Association provided for charges being made for
supplies in cases in regard to which a clear health factor or
financial hardship was not identified, further consideration has
now been given to the matter.
b) Sexually Transmitted Infections:
The Director of the Special Clinic at the West London Hospital
has consistently drawn attention to the increased number of
persons attending the clinic each year. Thanks to a highly
efficient treatment and follow-up service syphilis is, by and
large, controlled. The incidence of gonorrhoea showed a slight
decline in 1971, but both this condition and non-specific urethritis
remain at a very high level. No less than 81.2% of the infections
with syphilis and 28.2% of the infections with gonorrhoea were
homo-sexually acquired.
During 1971, at the request of the Department of Health and Social
Security, a major health education campaign against venereal
disease which was already planned in Hammersmith was intensified
and extended, along with a detailed study of its effect on figures
of attendances in 1971, compared with 1970, as recorded both at
the West London Clinic and other London Clinics attended by
Hammersmith residents.
The first reaction to a Health Education Campaign could be expected
to be an increase in clinic attendances with a reduction in the
male/female ratio in cases of gonorrhoea. This latter index is
significant insofar as it implies that females have been made aware
that the presence of disease in their case may not be immediately
apparent and that medical examination is necessary. By and large,
it can be said that as between the years 1970 and 1971, there was
an increase in the number of Hammersmith residents attending clinics
both at the West London Hospital and at certain other hospitals in
London. The increase was greater in Hammersmith residents than the
increase experienced by residents from other London Boroughs.
At the West London Clinic the male/female ratio in cases of
gonorrhoea was 1.35 to 1, which is a satisfactory figure.
The Consultant Venereologist in his Annual Report considers the
various factors involved and tribute must be paid to the efficient
contact tracing which is a feature of the West London Clinic.
Nevertheless, what has become widely known as the 'X in Sex'
Campaign, with the theme "If in doubt find out", must have had
considerable impact. Certainly a unique poster which was used in
the campaign along with a drama on tape entitled the 'X Factor'
were both widely discussed, and they therefore, undoubtedly had
the intended impact.
THE NURSING SERVICES:
Hammersmith was the London Borough Council which was visited during 1969 by
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