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Cytological diagnosis of early uterine cancer—"Well Women" Clinics
At the clinics, a full gynaecological examination is carried out; urine tests are made
and vaginal as well as cervical smears are taken. The results of all tests carried out are sent
to the general practitioner concerned.
A total of 1959 people attended the 160 sessions held at the five clinics in the
borough and of these 15 were found to have carcinoma of the cervix, 12 had some breast
pathology and 512 had a gynaecological disorder.
HEALTH EDUCATION AND HOME SAFETY
There has been a further increase in the activities of this section as shown by the
number of films exhibited, poster and leaflet material issued, and educational talks given
(see page 40), at the same time, health education is a continuous process and cannot be
measured solely in statistical terms. New concepts are developing as a result of changing
social conditions, particularly those related to new trends in permissive freedom and the
mental stress of day to day life; the ineffectual use of increased leisure poses a serious
mental and physical problem for the future.
The key point to this forward look is the responsibility of the individual to choose,
for instance, whether or not to expose himself to the risks of smoking, excess medication,
drug dependency, sexual promiscuity, physical inertia. Disciplined social behaviour is
perhaps today as strong a factor in the prevention of ill health as medical treatment or
environmental influences, and for that reason there is a growing need to extend to
schoolchildren, from an early age, what was once considered the more adult phases of
health education.
The monthly departmental working party meetings have continued to function
successfully, providing an invaluable liaison between the administrative and field staff of
the Department for the discussion of suggestions, policies, new material and the organisation
of a wide programme of projects.
Health Education Council Ltd.: From 1 April 1968 the newly formed Health Education
Council Ltd., took over the health education promotional activities of the Department of
Health and Social Security, and later assumed responsibility for the whole of the functions
of the Central Council for Health Education. The new organisation was set up on the
recommendation of the Joint Committee on Health Education to centralise the issue of
publicity and teaching material, the dissemination of information, the organisation of
training courses and conferences, and research into the field of health education.
Mothers' Clubs: Several new mothers' clubs have been opened through the initiative of
health visitors at welfare centres and these are being developed more as informal social
clubs with general interest activities rather than with any obvious attempt to educate; it is
felt that a weekly hour or two of pleasant relaxation is more likely to encourage young
mothers to maintain close contact with the health visitor and the centre.
Cancer Education: Continuous publicity has been maintained for Well Women Clinics for
the early detection of cancer of the cervix. Early in the year these clinics were extended
to include women who were employed, but not resident, in the Borough, and a number of
larger business firms were circularised to bring this service to the notice of their
employees.
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