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Mental Health
The various activities of the Mental Health Service of the Authority which are described
in this report give a picture of the ever increasing community care, which was visualised by the
Mental Health Act, 1959. The two training centres continued to do valuable work and once again
this Authority accepted responsibility for arranging the annual holiday to Dymchurch of trainees
from the Inner London area. Sincere thanks are due to Mr. Potter and Mrs. Lee and the members
of training centre staffs who made this holiday possible and contributed so much to its success.
The establishment of a day centre and a second social club were welcome developments
in Hammersmith.
Health Education
Health Education continues to be regarded as one of the most important functions of the
Health Service in Hammersmith. It has two main aspects. On the one hand it is the continuous
process which is carried on each day by all the staff of the Health Service in their various capacities
and is conducted in the home, at clinics, and at the place of work. The other aspect of
health education, namely, the provision of a "Design for Living" exhibition and the mounting of
special campaigns in relation to such important matters as mental health and venereal disease,
received a tremendous fillip when the Minister of Health, the Right Honourable Kenneth Robinson,
M.P., visited Hammersmith to open the exhibition.
Welfare Services
The highlight of the year in so far as the Welfare Services are concerned was the opening
by Dame Florence E. Cayford, D.B.E., of Southway Close, an excellent purpose-built home situated
in the Borough. The Welfare Service was also active in relation to assisting homeless
families to resume their place in the community. The Council's meals service continued to expand,
both in the domiciliary field and at luncheon clubs and formed an important preventive service
both in regard to nutrition as well as on social grounds.
Conclusion
The deep interest shown in the Health, Welfare and Children's Services by the Chairmen
and Members of the appropriate Committees, and indeed by the Members of the Council generally,
has been a source of great encouragement to the staff of the Social Services, for which I am most
grateful.
I should like to thank the Town Clerk, Borough Treasurer, Borough Engineer and Surveyor,
Borough Architect and Planning Officer, and the staffs of the services for which they are responsible
for their help throughout the year.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge my debt to Dr. A.B. Stewart, the Medical Adviser to the
Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority and his staff for a great deal
of help and advice, as well as to the Public Analyst for his report and advice throughout the year.
I am also grateful to the officers who so kindly supplied reports on related services.
A closer liaison was built up during the year with general practitioners and hospital
staffs in the Borough and I am grateful for their co-operation. Particular thanks are due to the
Director and technical staff of the Public Health Laboratory Service at County Hall for their
valuable assistance.
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