[Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Durham County Palatine / County Council.

  • Durham (England : County). Council.
Date:
1970
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Durham County Palatine / County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Cancer of the lung has shown the only real increase in recent years. This tend is shown in the following mortality rates for the County. Year. Deaths. Total Death- Rate per 1,000 population. Males. Females. Total. 1959 345 56 401 0-42 1960 320 47 367 0-39 1961 355 47 402 0-42 1962 394 67 461 0-48 1963 405 52 457 0-47 1964 422 58 480 0-49 1965 407 63 470 0-48 1966 449 60 509 0-52 *1967 441 81 522 0-55 *1968 378 60 438 0-53 1969 373 65 438 0-53 1970 386 67 453 0-55 * Population reduced by boundary changes. Cervical Cytology. The demand for cervical smear tests during the year was again such that sessions were arranged, in the evening, at various centres throughout the Administrative County only as justified by demand. Despite publicity in the local and national press and the continued advice given by health visitors in the normal course of their duties, the demand for appointments for smear tests was again disappointing. Considerable help and co-operation was given during the year by the staff of the Regional Hospital Board at the various laboratories to which the smears are sent for screening and the voluntary assistance of members of the British Red Cross Society and the Nursing Corps of the St. John Ambulance Associa- tion was again considered most valuable by the doctors, nurses and clerical staff who run the sessions. During the year 2,490 smears were taken and the number of positive cases was six. (See Table 17) In addition to specific sessions the cervical smear test was one of the tests undertaken at the Multiple Screening Clinic held at Bishop Auckland in April when 50 smears were taken of which four were positive. Since the service commenced in 1965 the number of smears taken was 24,957, the incidence of positive cases being 5-8 per 1,000 smears examined. Madam Curie Memorial Foundation. In addition to acting as agents for the “ Night Sitter ” Service the County Council also arrange for the provision of extra nourishment and clothing for cancer patients on behalf of the foundation. IV. Nursing Equipment. A central store of appliances is maintained in the Health and Welfare Department and a local store of smaller articles of equipment at Chester-le-Street. Stores are also maintained at Easington. Issues are made on the recommendation of a doctor, health visitor, district nurse or medical social worker. Visiting officers notify the Health and Welfare Department when the equipment is no longer required. All equipment is issued on free loan and during the year more than 90 different types were provided. Liaison with medical social workers of the hospitals receiving patients from the administrative county is maintained.