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Phenylketonuria
Three thousand two hundred and eighty-nine regular screening tests of the
urine of babies for phenylketonuria were carried out. Although no test proved
positive, the knowledge that children may be saved mental deterioration by this
means of early detection continues to be sufficient incentive to the health visitors,
who willingly carry out the large number of tests involved.
In a circular letter from the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health
(Ref. CMO 12/68) attention was drawn to a recommendation of the panel of the
working party on phenylketonuria of the Medical Research Council that consideration
should be given to phenistix testing for phenylketonuria being replaced by the
more reliable Guthrie blood test. At the end of the year the recommendation was
still under consideration in consultation with the Regional Hospital Board, as a
routine Guthrie test carried out on all babies would involve a considerable increase
of work for the staff, particularly in the pathological department of whichever
hospital carried out the test.
"Battered Babies" Syndrome
I am glad to say that again this year no incidents of young children with
unexplained injuries have been reported to the department or discovered by departmental
doctors and nurses, who continue to be on the alert.
Family Planning
The arrangements by the Council for advice and treatment without charge
through the Family Planning Association for women to whom pregnancy would be
detrimental to health continued and 39 women were provided with this service
during 1968.
The Council makes available to the Family Planning Association the use of
clinic premises, free of charge. During 1968 it made available an additional session
at one of these premises. The Council also agreed to the Association holding at
one of its clinics a regular counselling session for the unmarried. At the end of
the year fourteen weekly sessions and one fortnightly session were being held in
six local authority clinics. The Association continued to hold one session a week
at the War Memorial Hospital and two at Chase Farm Hospital for the fitting of
intra-uterine devices.
General medical practitioners provide family planning services under the
National Health Service Act, 1946.
The arrangement continued whereby women who are unable or unwilling to
attend a clinic and to whom pregnancy would be detrimental to health were
referred by the Health Department to the Family Planning Association for the
provision of a domiciliary service. Seventy-one women were referred under this
scheme during 1968. The Council pays an annual fee for each case treated.
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