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EMERGENCY CALL SERVICE
It was apparent that from 1st April, 1965, it would be necessary to provide an
effective means of alerting those personal and other health and welfare services which might
be needed to meet emergencies outside ordinary office hours.
Following discussions between neighbouring authorities with a similar problem
it was agreed that a service should be set up and shared between this Council and the City
of Westminster and that it would be based at Westminster City Hall. Four Night Duty Officers
were duly appointed to supplement the normal day staff and it became possible to maintain
a twenty-four hour a day service of information and advice for the public.
The Night Duty Officer on duty is responsible for dealing with all calls received
from the public and the calling into action of the appropriate emergency service during
periods when the offices are closed, i.e., at night, during week-ends and public holidays.
This service, which has worked smoothly since its inception, in fact, besides
covering general health emergencies, provides coverage for the mental health service, the
domiciliary midwifery service, the welfare service, the Children's Department and the public
health inspectors.
The cost of running the service is divided between the two Councils and in the
nine months' period ending 31st December, 1965, there were 1,132 calls for this Council's
services necessitating some action by the Night Duty Officer and, in addition, 828 calls
which only required subsequent routine attention.
HEALTH EDUCATION
GENERAL
This authority, as the successor or the Metropolitan Boroughs of Kensington and
Chelsea, with the areas of which its boundaries coincide and of the London County Council,
of which it formed approximately the eastern half of Health Division No. 1, inherited from
those authorities an active concern with all the varied aspects of health education. A considerable
number of staff was transferred to its service with experience in health education
from each of these authorities.
It is convenient at this point to summarise the statutory position as it was at 1st
April, 1965, when the new authority first took over these responsibilities from its three
predecessors.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1936, section 298, conferred on the London
County Council, the City of London and the Metropolitan Boroughs powers to "arrange for
the publication of information on questions relating to health or disease and for the delivery
of lectures, and the display of pictures (including cinematograph displays), in which such
questions are dealt with". The provisionsof section 298 were applied to the CountyCouncil
in its capacity of local health authority by the National Health Service Act, 1946 (10th
Schedule). Section 179 of the Public Health Act, 1936, which conferred similar powers
generally in the country was also applied by the 10th Schedule toother local health authorities.
The County Council's proposals under section 28 of the National Health Service
Act, 1946, included a proposal "to develop a comprehensive educational programme in
physical and mental health, and for this purpose to seek the co-operation of the borough
councils and to utilise the services and material available from the Central Council for
Health Education and other appropriate bodies". This scheme was approved by the Minister.
By virtue of section 45(1) of the London Government Act, 1963, this Council in accordance
with section 45(2) continue to implement this scheme. In framing any future proposals,
section 179 of the Public Health Act, 1936, may be invoked if necessary in place of the
provisions of Public Health (London) Act, 1936, which is wholly repealed by schedule 18 of
the London Government Act, 1963.
The Road Traffic Act, 1956, section 5, gives powers to local authorities to
promote road safety.