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1971 saw the introduction of a monthly service to the elderly resident nuns at the Tyburn Convent and
was a weekly session at Dora House, a home for the elderly run by a housing trust. An arrangement was
entered into with the London Borough of Camden for the provision of foot appliances for patients to
prescriptions prepared by the City Council chiropodists. The programme of re-equipping the clinics as
necessary with modern equipment has continued, and in centres catering for the handicapped, the latest
type of hydraulic chair has been installed for the patients. City Council transport is extensively used to
convey suitable semi-ambulant persons to six centres for treatment, thus avoiding the necessity of using the
domiciliary service and also giving the patients the opportunity of visiting the centre and mixing with other
residents.
At the end of the year a total of 54 sessions per week were being worked at centres, approximately 65
treatments were provided in chiropodists' own surgeries each week, and approximately 115 treatments were
provided in the homes of patients each week. (Table 39, page 89).
CERVICAL CYTOLOGY
During the year cervical cytology was carried out at four Council clinics and also at four large
department stores in the West End. All together 1665 new patients were examined and a further 511 repeat
examinations were carried out making a total of 2176 — approximately the same number as in the previous
year. The service is available to all women under the age of 65 living or working in the City of Westminster
and in 1971 56% of the women attending were over 35.
Positive smears were found in eight women whose ages ranged from 25 to 50 and four of those were
under 35. A total of 618 women were referred to their general practitioners for treatment of various
gynaecological conditions detected on clinical examination thus ensuring prompt investigation and
treatment where necessary.
The department is once again grateful to Dr Bate and his staff at the Samaritan Hospital for the
assistance so generously given in undertaking Laboratory examinations.
STAFF MEDICAL SERVICE
A medical suite is provided in the Health Department, staffed by a doctor and a trained nurse. A staff
medical service is available for all persons who work in the City Hall and the use made of the service
increases yearly.
The City Council has adopted a medical questionnaire system in lieu of a physical examination of new
entrants. The number of new members of the staff in 1971 was greater than in the previous year.
Correspondingly the number of applicants interviewed concerning their medical questionnaires also
increased although the number of physical examinations carried out were slightly fewer.
The number of members of staff attending for advice or first aid increased considerably during the year
— out of a total of 1185 patients, 86 were referred to their own general practitioner or to hospital.
One hundred and fifty persons were examined in connection with applications for exemption from
parking meter charges. As parking areas extend to other parts of Westminster the number of applications
for exemption on medical grounds increases.
As part of the staff medical service medical examinations of drivers are carried out for suitability for
heavy goods vehicles driving licences.
The number of vaccinations and immunisations carried out increased considerably during the year.
Statistics relating to the work undertaken in the medical suite during 1971 are set out in Table 41 page
91.