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115
VII—SPECIAL CLINICS FOR WOMEN
Consequent to the removal of the public health offices to the Town Hall extension,
the Council at its meeting on 13th September adopted a recommendation that five
rooms on the vacant floor at the Laburnum Street building be used for the special
women's clinics. It was found necessary to alter the times of these clinics and they
are now held jointly on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
The specialist staff of the clinics remains unchanged. The Council is fortunate
to be able to retain the services of Dr. Janet K. Aitken, M.D., M.R.C.P., as physician,
and of Dr. Gladys Hill, M.A., M.D., B.S., M.C.O.G., F.R.C.S., as gynaecologist. For
reference purposes the scope of the work carried out at the clinics and the method
of administration are again described in this section, and any changes which were
effected during the year are embodied in the following account.
SCOPE OF THE WORK CARRIED OUT AT THE CLINICS
General Medical Clinic.—Women suffering from any complaint of a medical
nature may attend this clinic, but they are strongly advised to bring with them a
report from their private practitioner or from the doctor at some other clinic. In
actual fact the majority of the patients do bring such references. It was thought
that this clinic would be specially useful in the difficult work of differentiating between
functional and organic conditions, and this expectation has been realised. As a
general rule continued treatment is not carried out. Many women do receive courses
of a comparatively small number of stock drugs, but in most cases this therapy can
be regarded as mainly diagnostic. This clinic is now held jointly with the
gynaecological clinic, on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6.30 p.m.
Gyncecological Clinic.—At the gynaecological clinic birth regulation cases and
gynaecological cases are dealt with at the same session. In the case of all patients
who request birth-control information a complete gynaecological examination is
performed, and any necessary minor treatment is carried out. Patients who request
birth-control information are also recommended to attend at the medical clinic
for examination, and a large proportion of them have a general medical examination.
Minor conditions which are treated at the clinic include erosions, prolapse, and other
displacements. No single method of contraceptive technique is used. In many
cases Dutch caps are recommended and fitted, and frequently these are supplemented
by solubles or by lactic acid pessaries. The method employed is often dictated by
the medical condition of the applicant, i.e., the degree of necessity for prevention of
contraception. The clinic is now held jointly with the general medical clinic, on
Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6.30 p.m.
Reference of individual patients to hospital.—In general it may be said that the
results of the working of these clinics indicate that many women suffer from minor