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The City Council employs five social workers in this service. They trace the contacts of confirmed
cases and persuade them to attend for diagnosis and treatment. In this sphere they are remarkably
successful. They also undertake social work in this very difficult field and are being employed much
more frequently by consultants to undertake the necessary case work.
Owing to it's central position, the City of Westminster maintains a general information service on
venereal disease. A special telephone is manned day and night to provide information to any
enquirer. During 1969 543 calls were received, mostly to enquire about the locality and times of
clinics. There were also requests for literature on venereal disease and for "check-ups" for prospective
bridegrooms before marriage.
The City Council also provides a contact tracing service for the American Service bases in and
around London; 58% of the contacts notified by them were traced.
Education and publicity on venereal disease is also an important duty of the local authority. New
notices with up-to-date details of all London clinics have been produced with a board backing, and
covered with clear perspex. These notices are displayed in all public conveniences in Westminster.
Separate notices on ceramic tiles are also being produced for the inside wall of each water closet.
(See Table 45, page 89).
HEALTH EDUCATION
The special health education project for 1969 was the Cervical Cytology Campaign which was
launched in April in collaboration with the Women's National Cancer Control Campaign. The
campaign was basically to encourage women working and living in the north-western part of
Westminster to be screened. The importance of screening was publicised by means of a specially
designed poster and post-card type of leaflet which was given a wide distribution, and which contained
details of the facilities for screening at the Harrow Road, Hallfield and Queen's Park maternal
and child welfare centres. A detailed report of the campaign is also included in another part of this
report (page 59).
One hundred and fifty-two educational films were screened during the year at maternal and child
welfare centres, and day centres. New visual aids were screened for appropriate staff both in the
City Hall for staff working in the southern area, and at Lisson Grove maternal and child welfare
centre for those employed in the northern part of Westminster. Appropriate staff from local hospitals,
the Children's and Welfare Departments of the City Council were also invited to all suitable new
films which were previewed at these two venues during the year; these included :
Type Title Distributor
Slides and tape recording "Medical Examination of the Medical Recording Service
pre-school child"
Slides and tape recording "Screening tests for Phenylketonuria" Medical Recording Service
Slides and tape recording "Definitions relating to developmental Medical Recording Service
paediatrics"
Films "Take one Baby" British Sugar Bureau
(subsequently purchased for use in the
Department)
Film "A Cruel Kindness" British Medical Association
Film "Steps towards Maturity" Walt Disney Production
Film "Understanding Stresses and Strains" Walt Disney Production
Film "Cast Us Not Out" Jewish Welfare Board
The Department's visual aids were used in conjunction with talks given by medical officers, health
visitors, social workers, public health inspectors and the health education assistant at the City Hall,
maternal and child welfare centres, Colleges for Further Education, schools and to local organisations
including catering establishments. The topics covered home safety, ante-natal care, mothercraft,
nutrition, food hygiene, venereal diseases and general health and hygiene.
The health education assistant who is a member of the Greater London Home Safety Committee
represented the City Council at the National Home Safety Conference which was held in November
at Folkestone, Kent.