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8
year—which witnessed the provision in September of an additional
weekly session in the Putney area at Clarendon Drive—numbered
2,352 as opposed to 1,922 in 1969. Many cervical smears are also
taken in the course of hospital investigations and general medical
practice and form an integral part of the activities of family planning
services. Both family planning and cervical cytology merit
whole-hearted support for they enable real progress to be made
towards the abolition of the spectre of the unwanted child and the
elimination of premature suffering and death in the prime of life
from cancer of the neck of the womb respectively. Continuing
publicity is needed to ensure that full advantage is taken of these
facilities which are now readily available in Wandsworth. Both
consumer, so to speak, and family doctor exert a key influence
in this context for personal commendation remains the most effective
form of endorsement. Success breeds success in health education
as in other spheres !
Certainly successful health educational measures are urgently
needed in relation to the sexually transmitted infections. Once
again the annual figures for venereal diseases affecting Wandsworth
residents rose appreciably, 4,200 attending special treatment
clinics compared with 3,371 in the previous year. The fact that
this marked upward trend—like that of illegitimacy—is to be found
in all large cities offers little consolation. Far greater attention to
the hitherto sadly neglected field of human relationships will need
to be paid if the present position is to be improved. Respect and
concern for others is the pre-requisite of a healthier picture. Both
as health educators and as citizens, doctors, nurses and midwives
must constantly reinforce the educational efforts of parents and
teachers in relation to the young; clearly social workers also have
an important contribution to make. The seeds of self-discipline
must be sown early in life if they are to bear fruit in good time !
Fostering healthy physical and emotional growth and development
is the raison d'etre of the maternal and child health service
provided by local health authorities in support of the family
doctor. Although the fall in the number of domiciliary confinements
continues unabated—with a consequent decline in the need
for medical ante-natal sessions outside hospital—this is more than
offset, so far as the midwives are concerned, by the sharp upward
trend in early discharges from hospital following delivery combined
with the increasing use being made of the general practitioner
obstetric unit at the Weir Hospital which opened in September
1969; last year 45 confinements were undertaken in the unit by the
domiciliary midwives who continued to supervise the post-natal
progress of the mothers and infants following their return home
after 48 hours in hospital. Satisfying continuity of care is thus
ensured by this excellent arrangement.
Child health clinic sessions—manned by doctors and health
visitors—continued to be well attended although the slight decline