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Five social workers, provided by the City Council, work in these clinics where they trace the
contacts of confirmed cases and persuade them to attend for examination and possible treatment.
They are often able to give help of a practical nature as well as casework support. Close liaison is
maintained with other agencies. During 1970, social workers interviewed 3,631 patients in the
clinics and made 1,437 home visits. Owing to the increased attendances at these special clinics, it
has been found necessary to increase the establishment by the appointment of another full time
social worker, who will commence duty in April, 1971.
Apart from their work in Westminster clinics, two of the social workers are responsible for tracing
contacts notified by the American bases in and around London; contacts notified from abroad,
forwarded by the Department of Health and Social Security, and contacts notified from local
authorities outside the London area. They are remarkably successful in this very difficult work,
particularly as some notifications have few relevant details of the contacts; 60.7% of all cases
notified through these sources were traced and brought to treatment. (See Table 47, page 87).
The City Council also maintains a Public Enquiry Telephone Service (928 3401) which is manned
by day and night to provide information to any enquirer. During 1970, 924 calls were received,
719 (76%) were requests for clinic times, locations and directions; 173 (20%) were requests for
literature on venereal diseases; and 32 (4%) were requests from prospective bridegrooms for a
"check-up" before marriage.
Education and publicity on venereal diseases is an important duty of a local authority. Notices
faced with perspex to prevent defiling, with up to date details of all London clinics and including the
City Council's public enquiry telephone number, have been fixed in all its public conveniences.
Smaller notices produced on ceramic tiles have also been fixed to the inside wall of each water
closet in the new and reconditioned public conveniences in the City Council area. As a result of
this, some 300 letters have been received asking for literature on venereal diseases and for clinic
details.
The symptoms of venereal disease in the earlier stages are not obvious in women and a leaflet
entitled "Venereal Diseases in Women" was produced during the year.
Talks on venereal diseases were given during the year by a Principal Medical Officer, a social
worker and an administrative assistant to students in Colleges for Further Education; to nurses
undertaking a Degree course in Sociology, and to cadets of the British Red Cross Society.
HEALTH EDUCATION
The special health education project for 1970 was an exhibition of Improvised Toys at Church
House, Westminster, from 24th to 26th June 1970. The exhibition was held in conjunction with the
Annual Conference of the National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare and was opened by
the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Westminster, Councillor and Mrs. Fitzgerald-Moore. Over
300 delegates to the Annual Conference visited the exhibition and commended the toys which were
produced in the City Council's day nurseries and at the Ebury Bridge Training School.
One hundred and forty-five educational films were screened during the year at the City Council's
maternal and child welfare centres, day centre and training school. New educational films and slides
were screened in the City Hall for staff working in the southern part of Westminster and at Lisson
Grove maternal and child welfare centre for staff working in the northern part of the area. These
included:
Type Title Distributor
Film John—9 days in a Residential Nursery Concord Films Council
Film The Five (Care of the Feet) British Medical
Association
Film B.C.G. for the World Glaxo Co. Ltd.
Tape recording (a) Slimming (Weight Watchers Ltd.) Medical Recording
and slides (b) Venereal Diseases (Questions and Service
Answers for school children)
Film Margin of Safety (Ante Natal service Bencard and Co.
provided by General Practitioners)
Film Barnet (Swedish film on Childbirth) National Audio Visual
Aids Centre
Film Out of the Mouths (Dental Health Oral Hygiene Service
Education)