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Screenings
In 1963 there were 14 deaths from cancer of the uterus. On an
estimated population of 40,000 women this gives a rate of 1 case
in 2,860. These are mostly women in early and middle life. So that
each death is a tragedy, often to a young family. Over the years
the numbers are considerable. The demand for routine screening
for early detection of cancer is now increasing. The medical and
nursing resources will be substantial if we are required to screen
40,000 women per year in this Borough alone; or even one tenth of
that number. In screening trials in this country, America, and
elsewhere, it has been found that only about five per cent of women
avail themselves of the service when it is offered; and these come
mainly from the professional social classes. With suitable health
education methods, this proportion can be increased.
There is a type of cancer which develops very slowly - maybe
over 20 years - in the cervix of the uterus which can be detected
by screening methods. Although the techniques are by no means
certain as yet, they can pick out potential cases. We should be
getting on with offering this service and by ensuring that the
gynaecological backing for treatment is sufficient and satisfactory.
In older people about one-third have got anaemia; great
numbers have defective eyesight, the wrong glasses, deformities of
the feet, endocrine deficiencies and many other defects. Our
clinic has shown that most of these can be screened for; there is
urgent need to expand our screening clinics, and similarly to back
these up with treatment facilities, In Bedford Dr. C.L.Sharp has
shown that the number of diabetics in a population is far greater
than is commonly supposed. We are screening our school children
for defective eyesight and hearing by completely new methods and
with far greater efficiency.
There are lots of other diseases capable of being ascertained
by screening methods, We have seen how tuberculosis was enormously
reduced by mass X-ray screening. I think much of the work of the
Health Department will in future consist of carrying out screening
methods on large sections of the population in clinics properly
equipped with the modern apparatus required to do it.
Other Needs
The problems facing the public health service are enormous.
I had hoped to suggest introducing an entirely different form of
school health inspections which would deal with those mostly in need
rather than a multitude of healthy ones. We have made some progress
in our clean air campaign but we still have more than two-thirds of
the Borough still untouched. The consumption of smoke is an important
danger to health. In 1963 there were 70 deaths from cancer of the
lung; this rate is rising and will continue to do so until we have
convinced people that cigarette smoking is an important cause and,
like spitting, an evil social habit. We have 10 deaths from motor
accidents and 15 from other accidents, and 18 suicides, Accidental
death and injury is the most important factor in childhood mortality
and morbidity. Diseases of the arteries stroke and coronary
thrombosis exact the biggest toll of all 707 deaths. In our
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