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70
IN-SERVICE TRAINING
It is appreciated that Health problems which arise from time to time whether they be
local or national should be discussed and, if possible, training on the recognition and
handling of these problems given to members of field staff. The problem of drug addiction
has now reached national proportions and it was felt that a special training session should
be given to selected members of staff. Dr. S. Caruana, Deputy Medical Director of the Central
Council for Health Education presented a most interesting insight into the problem as it is
now known, and from this, because of the great interest evoked, it was decided that a whole
day in-service training course entitled "The Aspects of Drug Addiction" be held. The
experts who gave papers on this subject during the morning session were, L.J. Ackroyd, Esq.,
B. Sc., one of H. M. Inspectors (Dangerous Drugs) of the Home Office, Dr. D. T. Wilson, M. B., B. S., of
St. Bernard's Hospital and Dr. S. Caruana, 0. StJ., M. D., B. Sc., D. P.H., D. T. M. & H., M.R. S. H. , Deputy
Medical Director of the Central Council for Health Education, and the afternoon session was devoted
to the screening of two films and discussing the papers and proceedings. More than 160
interested persons attended and included in this group were members of medical and nursing
staff, headteachers, the Pro Vice Chancellor of the City University, youth officers, ministers
of religion, health education officers from other Boroughs, social workers, etc. Much was
gained from this exercise and new knowledge and ideas were exchanged.
It will be seen from the varied activities of the Health Education Service that this
area of preventive medicine is now being expanded and greater use is being made of the
facilities which are available. It is hoped that the desire for knowledge and its subsequent
implementation will continue so that happier and healthier lives are led and the World
Health Organisation definition of good health, which is, "a state of complete physical,
mental, and social well-being and not simply the absence of disease or infirmity," be
carried out to its realisation.