View report page

- 120 -
The Clean Air Act, 1956, section 25, also gives powers to local authorities to
undertake research or publicity relevant to the problem of air pollution.
The London County Council (General Powers)Act, 1957, section 82, empowered
the City of London and the Metropolitan Boroughs to promote home safety activities; this
power was conferred generally on county districts by the Home Safety Act, 1961, which
repealed the relevant section of the General Powers Act.
Health education in schools is conducted under the general provisions of the
Education Acts.
There was considerable overlapping of powers of the respective authorities, and
an understanding developed between the County and the Metropolitan Boroughs whereby the
former authority concentrated on aspects of health education connected with the personal
health services for which it was responsible, whilst the boroughs dealt with environmental
matters. In practice, clean air publicity and road safety were dealt with by the boroughs,
whilst the County dealt to a greater extent with home safety. There was, however, extensive
co-operation and aid between authorities in a great variety of matters and especially
in the field of home safety.
With the exception of road safety, for which it was considered appropriate for
this Council's Works and Highways Committee to assume responsibility, all of these matters
are now the responsibility of the Health and Welfare Department, subject to policy direction
of the Health Committee.
The Council continues to maintain the links forged by its predecessors with the
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the Central Council for Health Education,
the National Association for Mental Health and the National Association for Maternity and
Child Welfare.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE HEALTH AND WELFARE
DEPARTMENT
There is a panel of officers representative of all disciplines in the department,
which is responsible for devising methods of carrying out the day-to-day health education
policy as directed by the Health Committee. The panel meets frequently and is free to
invite the participation of representatives from outside the service, e.g. the Inner London
Education Authority and the London Fire Brigade.
There is also a working team of Health Visitors, which meets once a month.
This team discusses and plans the current schemes for the welfare centres and is responsible
for special projects. Usually the emphasis is on one special theme for every two-monthly
period.
During the year the Health Visitors in the welfare centres have continued to
provide health education on a personal level through their routine contact with the public.
Talks and demonstrations are given to expectant and nursing mothers with the use of films,
film strips and other visual aids. Schoolgirls are given talks on the theme "Preparation for
Life". Health Visitors also give talks to various clubs and organisations on general health
topics.
SAFETY IN THE HOME
In the autumn the Council supported the National Fire Prevention Campaign
being held by all Fire Brigades at the behest of the Home Office. It was decided that this
support should take the form of publicity in the welfare centres and day nurseries where
talkswere given by health visitors and other staff, by the display of posters on public notice
boards and the widespread distribution of suitable leaflets. One of the areas most prone to
fire accidents, especially those as a result of the misuseof oil heaters, isinNorth Kensington,
where there is a large amount of old family property in multiple occupation by a largely
immigrant or transitory population. In this area, in addition to the general publicity, an
exhibition was mounted at a welfare centre which was widely publicisedand as a result well
attended. The exhibition was simple in form and included practical demonstrations of the
flammability of materials. Fireguards and the proper method of fixing them were shown, as
were photographs of injuries resulting from burning accidents. This exhibition was suggested
and was prepared and staffed by the health visitors'working team who were also responsible