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During the year, 1969, the local branch of the British Red Cross
Society carried out 1,072 treatments which were all domiciliary.
Recuperative Holidays
During the year arrangements were made for the placement of
patients in suitable recuperative holiday homes. This service is restricted
to those people recovering from a recent acute illness, no longer in need
of nursing treatment and only requiring rest, fresh air and good food to
complete their treatment. Recommendations were received from hospitals
and general practitioners.
Eighty applications were received. Suitable holidays were arranged
for 5 school children and 55 adults, and in one of these cases a mother was
accompanied by her two children who were both under five years of age.
In the case of 17 adults and 3 school children the arrangements were
cancelled at the patient's request.
The school children were recommended under Section 48 of the
Education Act 1944.
Cervical Cytology
Sessions for the taking of cervical smears were increased to ten per
month during the year. The increase was to deal with new cases and also
those who had had their first test and were returning for their second
examination twelve months after their initial test. A further test is made
after a further interval of three years. In addition to carrying out the
specific smear test, all attending the clinic are offered a more general
examination. Most avail themselves of the offer and also take advantage of
the opportunity to discuss individual problems with the examining doctor.
1,315 patients were examined during the year and 79 of these were
given a second test about three months later after receiving treatment from
their general practitioners. Approximately 60% of all patients were referred
to their own general practitioners for treatment or for further referral to
hospital for other gynaecological conditions. One positive, two very
suspicious and two suspicious cervical smears were reported.