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is also given at Well Women Clinics. Mary health visitors have
addressed various Ladies' Clubs on the importance of the cervical smear
as a screening test for the early detection of malignant disease. The
number of smears examined in 1970 was 1,075 as compared with 930 in
the previous year. 166 were sent for treatment or placed under
observation.
New Venture in Community Care
A one-day conference on community care was held at Kingston
Hospital in November 1970. It was arranged jointly by the Matron of
Kingston Hospital, the Superintendent of Midwifery and Home Nursing
Services and the Superintendent Health Visitor, and was attended by
thirty senior hospital nursing staff and thirty senior local health
authority staff.
The morning programme covered the work of the health visiting,
midwifery and nursing services and opportunity was given for group discussion
between the hospital and local authority staff. In the afternoon
a panel of speakers from the hospital addressed the conference and this was
followed by a session of "Any Questions" and visits to the wards.
As a result of this conference the local authority and hospital
staff have been made more aware of each other's role, and liaison has
been improved.
Co-ordinating the Needs of the Elderly
Meetings have been held at two-monthly intervals in the
Surbiton, Chessington, New Maiden and Worcester Park Clinics to co-ordinate
the services available to the elderly. These meetings have been well
attended by both the statutory and voluntary visitors. The statutory
visitors have included social workers, mental health social workers, health
visitors, district nurses, the Home Help Supervisor, and the voluntary
visitors have included representatives from the Old People's Welfare
Association, the Churches and the Council of Social Service.
It has been possible at these meetings to discuss the needs of
the elderly, to avoid duplication of visiting and, where necessary, to
arrange daily visiting. Amongst other beneficial results of these
meetings were the formation of a Luncheon Club and the arrangement of
outings for the handicapped and transport for the elderly.