London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Greenwich 1971

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]

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285
(b) DISPLAYS
Sites available for displays are, unfortunately, limited. Occasionally
a shop proprietor will allow use to be made of a part of
his premises but generally displays are confined to the foyer of
the headquarters premises of the Directorate and to Child Welfare
Clinics. However, a shop front in the main shopping centre of
the Borough, owned by the Council, is made available to the
Directorate for three periods, each of 3 weeks, during the year
and a full display employing modern methods of lighting and
animation is mounted. Topics selected for 1971, were Child Care;
Smoking and Health; Welfare of the Disabled.
(c) EXHIBITIONS
(i) Greenwich Show and Carnival. This event, which takes place
in September each year, is a major occurrence in the Council's
calendar. Up to 12,000 people visit the Show which includes
marquees depicting the activities of the Council. The Health
Education Service is responsible for the Directorate's participation
in this event and, in 1971, staged a major exhibit showing in
detail the facilities available (including some 110 photographs
taken, printed and mounted by the Service). A float was also
provided for the Carnival Procession taking place on the morning
of the Show.
(ii) "Mind' Week: 16-23 October. The Directorate participated
fully in this national campaign mounted by the National Association
for Mental Health. The whole of the Victoria Hall was taken
over for a display of work by centres for the mentally disordered,
including a display of paintings from the local hospital. Visitors
to the exhibition were required to enter through a totally enclosed
exhibit 15 ft. x 12 ft. (nicknamed the "Black Box") illustrating the
symptoms of mental disorder and the older inhuman methods of
"treatment". At one stage, visitors were required to pass through
a section which by flashing lights, strange odours and noises,
oscillating mirrors and spongy underfooting sought to simulate
the effects of physical disorientation occurring in some types of
mental illness. It was hoped by this means to prepare them psychologically
for the remainder of the exhibition.
During the week of the Exhibition, Open Days were held at training
centres and occupational day centres, and a Public Meeting
was held.
(d) CAMPAIGNS
(i) Smoking and Health. During the year, a pilot survey was
made as to the willingness of shop-keepers to put up signs requesting
customers not to smoke. Results indicated that just over 50%