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The occurrence of cases of diphtheria in the Borough
after nine years clear of this disease was disappointing,
but it has demonstrated the importance of maintaining a
high level of immunisation particularly in the child
population. Fortunately, all of the clinical cases were
mild and made rapid and complete recoveries.
The Council's programme for the establishment of
smoke control areas continued with unabated energy and,
with the co-operation of all concerned, it is hoped to
speed up this work so that the whole of the Borough may
be rendered smokeless as soon as possible. The first
Smoke Control Order was made and confirmed and the
preliminary survey of the second area was well in hand
before the end of the year.
On the 4th April 1959 the Public Health Department
moved from the Town Hall into Camberwell House West. The
staff quickly settled down in their new quarters and the
work continued without interruption. Whilst there are
certain adverse features in the layout of the new
accommodation, it is, on the whole, a considerable improvement
on the offices formerly occupied. There are
now waiting and interviewing rooms for the convenience of
the public and the opportunity has been taken of providing
a properly equipped medical examination room which also
serves as an office for the Deputy Medical Officer of
Health. The public waiting room on the ground floor is
also being used for the display of posters, and other
health education material.
Health education continues to be a very important
function of the Public Health Department and in addition
to the general publicity by the distribution of posters,
pamphlets, bookmarks and so on, a number of talks, demonstrations
and film shows were given to schools and various
organisations in the Borough.
An endeavour was made to ascertain what methods of
health education had the greatest impact on the public,
by conducting an enquiry in which questionnaires were
completed by members of the public visiting the Town Hall,
Public Libraries, Child Welfare Centres, a department
store as well as by members of Clubs and by pupils at a
Secondary Modern School. An analysis of the replies,
which are very enlightening, appears in the body of this
report.