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Welfare Foods
The Council is responsible for the distribution of welfare foods (National Dried
Milk, cod liver oil, fruit juices, etc.) supplied by the Department of Health and Social
Security.
In addition various proprietary brands of dried milk and dietary supplements are
sold at the child health clinics on the recommendation of the medical officers, health
visitors or family doctors. I gratefully acknowledge the work of all voluntary helpers.
Cervical Cytology (Well Woman Clinics)
Thirteen sessions each fortnight were held at seven clinics in the Borough.
During the early autumn a four-week campaign was mounted to encourage more
women to attend for cervical cytology and to advertise the well woman clinics in the
Borough using a caravan loaned by the Women's National Cancer Control Campaign.
A total of 1,128 women were seen and examined and smears were taken from all but
fifteen.
The age range of women attending the caravan was:—
Under 20 years 10
21—30 years 164
31—40 years 268
41—50 years 350
51—60 years 258
Over 61 years 78
As can be seen, the vast majority of women were over the age of 30 years, and almost
one-third of all those seen were in the age range 41—50 years. This fact may be considered
very satisfactory as it is the older woman who is more vulnerable to developing
cervical cancer, although it is emphasised that younger women may also develop
carcinoma in situ.
An analysis of the occupations of the husbands of those women who had smears
taken during the campaign (based on the Registrar General's five classes) shows:—
I (professional) 152
II (intermediate) 177
III (skilled) 442
IV (semi-skilled) 82
V (unskilled) 18
OTHER (occupation not stated, unmarried etc.) ... 242
The information required on the forms from which the figures were taken was not really
adequate to provide an accurate allocation and in cases of doubt the lower class was
chosen. Very few women from social groups IV and V were seen. This feature was
disappointing when statistics have shown that these are the women who have an increased
risk of cervical cancer.
Following the physical examination and/or the cytology result 159 women from
the mobile clinic were referred for either further investigation or treatment. This represents
about one in every seven women seen. Two women were found to have positive
smears and were referred for specialist treatment. Apart from those women who were
referred to their family doctors, the laboratory recommended further smears to be taken
from 134 women. Thus, of the 1,128 women examined, 293 were either referred to
their family doctors or recommended to undergo a further test within the next twelve
months. This represents nearly 26% of all those seen during the campaign.
Whilst the prime object of the campaign was to detect a pre-cancerous condition,
many minor disorders (which women often consider as "their lot" and are hesitant in
seeking medical advice) were detected. Following therapy, the physical and mental wellbeing
of these women is often markedly improved.
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