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26
When the Women's National Cancer Control Campaign acquired a mobile unit,
and offered to make it available to any London Borough, it was felt than an
experiment whereby a clinic was taken to the people might stir some interest
in cervical cytology. Approval was given by the Health Committee in June for
the unit to visit the borough for a period of nine weeks in July and August.
Seven sites were chosen in strategic parts of the borough. Hackney hence
became the first London Borough to organise such a campaign.
Extensive and concentrated preliminary publicity was considered to be
essential. Leaflets and posters were used with the addition, in orange
lettering, of an invitation to visit the unit. Printed handbills with dates
and locations were issued and a house-to-house distribution undertaken.
Distribution was helped by the co-operation of Estate Managers, Welfare
Department staff and the teaching profession and members of the Stoke Newington
Branch of the Women' s National Cancer Control Campaign. A press conference
led to good coverage in local papers and an interview in the caravan with the
B.B.C's "Town and Around" programme. Advance posters were erected near each
new site before the first session. It was found that the most effective type
of advertising was the method of putting leaflets through the door.
The caravan was manned during afternoons and evenings by a doctor, nurse
and interviewer. A technician was required to operate gas, electricity and
water supplies and a driver for towing the vehicle. School holiday time
released certain medical officers from school medical inspections and these
were helped by part-time doctors, also experienced in the work. Health
visitors volunteered for evening sessions and the Health Department clerical
staff undertook the interviewing, aided by volunteers from the Stoke Newington
Branch of the Women's National Cancer Control Campaign. As at the clinics a
careful history was recorded by the doctor, the breasts, abdomen and pelvis
were examined, in addition to the cervical test being taken, and each woman
was told about self-examination of the breasts and given a leaflet. It was
unfortunately impracticable to examine urine during this campaign. Prom observations
made a fair cross-section of the population appear to have attended,
though not a large proportion from the lowest socio-economic groups.

For comparison a special survey of the age groups attending the clinics
in 1968 was undertaken. This table shows that the caravan was successful
in attracting the older woman. This is particularly advantageous because
younger women who attend ante-natal clinics and are tested routinely are more
adequately covered. On several occasions the numbers presented exceeded the
total who could adequately be dealt with during one session, i.e. 12. This is
a problem which will have to be solved for future campaigns. It was found
that, as in most consultations of women with a doctor in a confidential
atmosphere, a considerable number of psychological, marital, birth control and
other problems came to light. It was interesting to note that there was an
increase in the number of appointments at Council clinics following the visit
of the mobile unit and it can therefore be deduced that the latter helps to
focus attention on the service.