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There was a reduction in the number of special talks given to small groups in 1970, but it
was decided to produce two exhibitions and a series of talks for both City workers and City
residents. These were organised and achieved considerable success. The first Exhibition was
held in April, 1970, its purpose being to demonstrate the work of the Port and City Health
Services. Four Lunch Time Talks were given by consultant medical staff of St. Bartholomew's
Hospital at the Guildhall at weekly intervals. The topics were Cervical Cytology, Weight
Control, Air Pollution and Coronary Thrombosis.
Audiences of approximately 150 people attended each of these talks and many questions
were asked in the lively discussion periods. The Exhibition Hall situated at the rear of the
Guildhall was the site of the exhibition. Entitled "Good Health" it portrayed in photographs
and by other forms of visual aids, the control of communicable disease, the prevention of importation
of unwholesome foods, the safeguarding of hygiene both in the Port and City itself, reduction
of air pollution, noise control and varying aspects of the personal health and welfare
services. It is estimated that well over 2,500 people attended.
The second exhibition was held in September, 1970, and consisted of the Health Education
Council Mobile Unit placed outside the Royal Exchange. Inside the building, films were shown
during the lunch hours and posters and leaflets were on display, the theme being ''WeightControl".
In spite of wet weather, an estimated number of over 1,500 people attended during the three
days; a similar number watched the films.
The following report has been received from Professor P.J. Lawther, M.B., F.R.C.P.,
Director of the Medical Research Council's Air Pollution Unit:-
"At the Health Exhibition in April, 1970 the Medical Research Council Air Pollution Unit
carried out a survey of Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in relation to smoking habits and residential
history. A team of three workers from the Unit, together with one from the Health Department,
attended each lunchtime and people visiting the exhibition were invited to answer a few questions
about date and place of birth, area of residence and smoking habits. They were then weighed and
measured and asked to blow five times into a peak flow meter. Tables of "standard" values were
on display, so that the subjects could check that their results were within the normal range. The
few subjects with very low values were given a note of their own results and advised to see
their physician.
Over 2,500 people had their peak flow measured during the five weeks of the exhibition, and
the survey was continued in further lunchtime sessions at the College of Further Education, in
Bunhill Row. The results from a final total of 2891 subjects were punched onto cards for analysis
by computer. It has been possible to examine the relationship between peak flow, height and age
thoroughly, and the results may be used to provide revised "standards" against which to compare
clinical results. The tabulations of height and weight obtained in this survey are also of interest
in their own right, and the results are being compared with those from other studies of working
populations. The proportion of smokers in this sample was smaller than in the general population
of the United Kingdom, particularly among middle-aged men, and there was a tendency for peak
flow to decline more rapidly with age among continuing smokers than among others. More detailed
analyses of the results in relation to smoking and area of residence are still in progress, and
the results will be published in due course."
Family Planning
Rent free premises are provided for the Family Planning Association at Milton Court where
three lunch-time and one evening sessions are held each week for City Workers and residents.
The Corporation continues to underwrite the cost of consultations and supplies to married
women residents referred on medical grounds. Following the National Health Service (Family
Planning) Act, 1967, the Corporation also underwrites the cost of consultations to married women
residents or other residents who seek advice on social grounds.
The Corporation has also agreed to give a grant to the Family Planning Association.
The Association has submitted the following report on their work in the City:-
"1970 has again been a busy one for the family planning clinic at which more patients were
seen than during the previous year. 1480 (1315 in 1969) patients made 4102 visits (3759 in 1969)
and 609 (642 in 1969) were new to FPA clinics. The number of City residents attending was 61.
It is encouraging to note that the number of established patients continues to increase and we
feel sure that the number of new patients attending has been kept at this figure because unfortunately
it has not been possible to extend the number of lunch time sessions. Many of the
people attending these latter sessions live quite a distance from the City and find it a great help
to be able to go to a clinic in their lunch break. All sessions are in fact working to capacity and
extra daytime sessions are badly needed to cope with the increased number of people wishing
to use the clinic. 205 sessions were held during this year, 24 more than last year.