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Health Education
The Borough appointed a health education officer and a technical assistant. A
Health Education Advisory Panel met regularly under the chairmanship of the deputy
medical officer of health. The panel represented every branch of the Department! It
chose new material and selected monthly themes for publicity in the whole Borough
area, linked where possible with national campaigns. The themes covered -
Summer Safety.
Preparation for School.
Clean Pood.
Oil Heaters and Fireguards.
Winter Illness and Immunisation.
Accidents in the Home.
Liaison was made with other departments to display appropriate posters and leaflets
in libraries, toilets and on refuse vehicles. The Education Officer and Youth Officer
co-operated in arranging entry into schools and youth clubs for displays and talks.
The range of subjects covered Drugs and Stimulants, Smoking, Venereal Disease and
Human Relationships. A public smoking advisory clinic was held weekly with medical
officers in attendance from the Council's staff and from the Chest Clinic. Cinemas
showed anti-smoking films at their children's sessions, and the local Press published
articles. A special activity dealt with the publicising of the dangers of illegal
child minding. The equipment for audio-visual aid was reviewed and brought up to date.
A van was allocated and adapted for health education purposes.
Plans were agreed with the Inner London Education Authority for teachers to
attend at welfare centres to take classes for immigrant women to help improve their
English speaking. The classes would be drawn from, but not restricted to, mothers
attending at the centres.
Visits arranged for Students
During the year 609 students (including 482 student nurses) visited Public Health
Department establishments as part of their training to gain an insight into services
of a local health authority.
Members of the Department's nursing staff gave talks to student nurses at hospitals,
and programmes were arranged to enable these students to gain practical experience.
Periods of attachment within the Department were also provided for health visitor
students from the Royal College of Nursing and the University of London (Institute
of Education).
Miscellaneous visitors included parties of student dietitians, district nurses.
child care officers, social workers and several doctors from overseas. In addition
facilities were also resumed during the year for medical students from the Royal Free
Hospital to pay visits of observation to the Council's day nurseries and infant
welfare clinics.
Co-operation with Children's and Welfare Departments
Residential establishments under the management of the Children's and Welfare
Committees are visited at regular intervals by the Council's medical officers, who
advise on hygiene and standards of care generally. The medical officer is usually
accompanied by a public health inspector when visits are made to Welfare establishments
for the aged and infirm. Where there are handicapped children, their progress
and needs are discussed with the staff concerned. Advice is given to the Children's
Department with regard to boarding-out placements in special cases, and in adoption
cases.
Blind and Partially-Sighted Persons
During the year arrangements were made for examinations by a Consultant
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