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53
session a week at the Public Health Offices in June 1966.
In October 1966 we were allowed to increase the number of
smears to 60 a week so a second session was commenced.
Our waiting list at the end of 1966 was 350 and waiting time for
an appointment was six weeks. Women over the age of 30 are
seen.
The Clinic is run by two State Registered Nurses who have
been trained in the technique by one of our Medical Officers
with special experience in this work. A medical officer is
also always on call.
It should be emphasised that this Clinic is solely for the
detection of cancer of the cervix before symptoms arise and
any woman who has symptoms which worry her should attend
her own doctor.
It is hoped to show a film accompanied by a tape recording
on early detection of breast cancer in 1967 as it is felt this
is a good opportunity for Health Education.
SECTION 29
HOME HELP SERVICE
Home Helps The woman who works as a Home Help has not only a job.
One might say she has a vocation. For an hourly wage less
than she could earn in industry or private domestic employment
she may be asked to run a home, look after a bedfast old
person, co-operate with one of our domiciliary nurses in a
case of acute illness, or do the housework and give support
to a patient discharged from hospital.
In-service training should be included in our plans for a
proportion of the staff each year. Talks and demonstrations on
balanced diet, invalid cooking, the special needs of the aged,
the handling of sick and disturbed people and other related
topics would not only instruct our workers but should make
them conscious of their part in the Health Services we
administer. This policy could well be an aid to recruitment.
Mrs. Lawrence, Senior Home Help Organiser, reports:—
"There are 230 Home Helps employed in the London
Borough of Redbridge. This is 16 fewer than last year and I
would appeal to any woman who feels capable of carrying out
this interesting and demanding work to get in touch with me.