London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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In June, at a Trade Fair organised by the Islington Chamber of Commerce,
the Public Health Department arranged an exhibit dealing with elderly persons'
welfare services and food hygiene, on a section of a stand which had been allocated
to the Borough Council.
Talk by Deputy Medical Officer of Health.
In response to a request from the Hon. Secretary of the Young Wives' Club,
Caledonian Road Methodist Church, the Deputy Medical Officer of Health gave
a talk to the Group on "The Public Health Services." The talk was very greatly
appreciated.
Health Education Conferences and Courses.
In February the Medical Officer of Health, together with Councillor Ross,
attended a one-day Conference, arranged by the Central Council for Health Education,
on Education of the Public regarding Cancer, and in October attended the
Home Safety Session of the National Safety Congress.
Members of the staff also attended special Training and Refresher Courses as follows:—
| B.M.C. Diesel Engine Instructional Course (Austin Service School, Birmingham). | One Public Health Inspector. |
| London County Council In Service T raining Courses. (London County Council in collaboration with Central Council for Health Education). | |
| Chief Clerk. | |
| Old People's Health Officer. | |
| Assistant Old People's Health Officer. | |
| Refresher Course for Public Health and Smoke Inspectors. (College of Fuel Technology). | |
| Chief Public Health Inspector. | |
| One Public Health Inspector. | |
| One-day Courses of Study on Heating by Gas and Coke. (North Thames and South-Eastern Gas Boards). | |
| Chief Public Health Inspector. | |
| Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector. | |
| Two Public Health Inspectors. | |
| Course on Scientific Study of Air Pollution (University of London). | Two Public Health Inspectors. |
SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PERSONS
The work of the Department on behalf of elderly persons is done both directly
and indirectly, and it will be seen from the information to follow that the total
volume of work done in this section is quite considerable. The Department's Old
People's Health Officers carry out each year a large number of visits and re-visits
and on the circumstances found have been the means of obtaining, or recommending
assistance for old persons. They effect close liaison between the Public Health
Department's own facilities and those which can be given through the Local Health
Authority, in particular the Home Help service, and also with voluntary organisations
in respect of Meals-on-Wheels, chiropody, and holidays.
The Health Officer and her assistants visited 597 new cases during the year,
and re-visits totalled 3,962. Four cases were dealt with under the National Assistance
Acts, 1948 and 1951, and these are described below.