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33
PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE
CERVICAL CYTOLOGY
In September, 1966, approval was received from the Minister of Health to
the Council's scheme to provide a screening service for cervical cancer, as
part of its arrangements, under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act,
1946, for the prevention of illness.
Further guidance on the planning of population screening services for
carcinoma of the cervix was given by the Minister in Circulars issued in October.
These outlined the part to be played by hospital pathology laboratories, general
practitioners and local health authorities in expanding this service to ensure
that every woman aged 35 years or more is screened at five - yearly intervals.
The training of adequate numbers of technicians to carry out this work in
hospital laboratories was particularly emphasised.
Initially, the pathologist at Hackney Hospital offered to undertake the
examination of fifteen smears a week and this made it possible to start the
Council's first cytology session. This opened at Richmond Road Welfare Centre
in September. The clinic is conducted somewhat on the lines of the 'Well
woman' clinics run by some other local authorities; when the smear is taken,
examination is also made of the breasts, abdomen, pelvis and urine.
With the promise that an increased number of smears could be dealt with in
the coming year, arrangements were in hand at the end of the year to open a
second session at the John Scott Health Centre early in 1967, and for additional
sessions should the demand prove sufficient.
In addition to these sessions run by the Council, smears are taken routinely
in the ante-natal and gynaecology departments of the hospitals in the Borough,
and at family planning clinics conducted by the Family Planning Association.
With increased facilities, it is hoped in the near future to include all those
women who attend the Council's own ante-natal and family planning clinics, and
to lower the present age limit from thirty-five to twenty-five years.
It is a matter of importance that women of the appropriate age group are
encouraged to have this simple test done. Staff of the Department and outside
agencies have publicised the facts about the screening test in order to dispel
any fears in women's minds about the subject. A film has been shown to the
public in the Council's premises by the National Cervical Cancer Prevention
Campaign, with doctors present in the audience willing to answer questions afterwards.
CHIROPODY