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8
The family planning services continued to expand. These services
continue to be provided by the Family Planning Association acting on an
agency basis for the Council. The service was free and available to all
Harrow residents. An extension of this service for younger age groups
was provided at a special Youth Advisory Clinic which was intended for
the counselling of girls under the age of 20 years.
The work of preparing, advising and caring for the expectant mother
is a very important aspect of the work of a Health Department and this
service was enthusiastically carried out by the staff of the Health
Department. To provide for greater continuity and a better standard of
care for mother and child, an integrated domiciliary midwifery service
with Northwick Park Hospital was planned. I am pleased to report that
during the year there were no maternal deaths.
The Department's screening programme for cervical cancer was
boosted by the provision of a mobile clinic on loan from the Women's
National Cancer Campaign. This proved very popular and purchase of a
mobile clinic by the Department was considered.
Under Section 12 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968,
local authorities can adapt homes for the provision of dialysis for patients
with failing kidneys. In November arrangements were made to install a
portable dialysis room at the home of such a patient. Access from the
road for the delivery of this building was inadequate so the Ministry of
Defence came to the Department's aid and an R.A.F. helicopter lifted
the building on to the site.
In spite of the difficulties mentioned earlier, 1972 was a year during
which much useful work was carried out by the Health Department.
It is a pleasure to put on record my thanks to the Chairman and
members of the Health Committee for their unfailing support of the work
of the Department and its staff. I also pay tribute to the staff of the
Department who worked so hard to carry out the Council's policy.
Without such support and diligence, none of this work would have been
possible.
I have the honour to be,
Your Obedient Servant,
CLIFFORD JANSZ,
Medical Officer of Health
Principal School Medical Officer