[Report 1970-1971] / Medical Officer of Health, Berkshire County Council.

  • Berkshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1971
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1970-1971] / Medical Officer of Health, Berkshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    41/84 (page 37)
    Another outcome of the new system of determining priorities amongst the budget for uncommitted expenditure was provision for the long awaited post of health education officer and an additional technical assistant. When it was learnt that Reading Corporation was also planning to appoint new health education staff it was mutually agreed to combine forces. A joint health education unit will thus be set up in 1972 comprising a health education officer, an assistant health education officer, two technical assistants and clerical support. Cervical Cytology During the two years the cytology clinics at Bracknell, Faring don, Maidenhead, Newbury, Wallingford, Wantage, Windsor and Woking- ham were continued and 102 sessions were held in 1970 and 128 in 1971. The number of women examined was 1,312 in 1970 and in 1971 the number increased to 1,632. In addition, four sessions were held on the premises of private firms in 1971 and 84 women were examined. The local recall scheme for the northern part of the county, adminis- tered by the cytology laboratory at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, continued and reminders were sent to women under 40 years of age every five years, to those aged between 40 and 50 every three years, and to the over 50’s annually. As it became apparent that most of the five year recalls were inapplicable, either because the patient had had the test repeated, or else had changed her address, it was decided to dis- continue sending recall notices to those aged under 35, and to shorten the interval to three years for those aged 35 and over. An annual reminder continues to be sent to women over the age of 50. No attempt was made to follow up women who failed to reply to the reminder. In October 1971, the Department of Health and Social Security issued details of the national recall scheme which it was intended should come into operation on 1st January 1972. Under this scheme, women over the age of 35, would be reminded of the need for a re-examination every five years. Women who were under 30 at the time of their first examination would not be recalled until they reached the age of 35. The scheme, which would appear to be somewhat cumbersome, requires Executive Councils to verify the address of the woman, and also to notify her general practitioner that it is proposed to recall her in order that no reminder is sent if the general practitioner does not consider it necessary. Local authorities are asked to arrange for the follow-up of women who do not respond to the reminder to re-attend. Renal Dialysis At the beginning of 1970, six patients were on home dialysis and during the year two more home adaptations were carried out without cost to the patient. In 1970, five home adaptations were undertaken. This included provision of one portable unit and the granting of an interest free loan of £1,400 in one case. In the other four cases the patients were not involved with any costs. During the year one person who commenced home dialysis in 1968 had a successful transplant. At the end of 1971, 12 persons were on home dialysis in the county.