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Could it be that the public do not want to stop smoking? One thing is perfectly clear — the Government is
ambivalent about the matter. The man in the street says "If there were anything in this smoking business
which is really harmful, then the Government would do something about it", and thus he goes blissfully on
his way. The Government, of course, collects £1,100 million per year in tax from the smoker and, it would
appear, has a double standard when discussing smoking — from the Treasury on the one hand and the
Department of Health on the other.
The work of the Islington Smoking Advisory Clinic has been acknowledged internationally and Dr. H. O.
Williams (Consultant Chest Physician) and the Health Education Officer have broadcast on radio and
television frequently during the year, on national programmes, such as "Nationwide" and "Television
Doctor", "World at One", "Radio 4 Reports" and on overseas broadcasts. They also wrote a booklet,
published by the Chest and Heart Association, "How to stop smoking" which received much publicity and
was written up by most national newspapers. Mention was also given in Australian, South African and
European newspapers and journals. The booklet was also featured in a "World at One" radio broadcast.
TRAINING
It is customary for Student Public Health Inspectors to receive practical training in health education as
part of their examination course. Students from the department were given tutorials on the method and
content of health education and practical instruction.
Student State enrolled nurses were given assistance on their courses by members of the health education
service staff. A number of student health visitors from the North Western Polytechnic visited the health
education centre and were given practical instruction and advice in the use of audio-visual aids, promotion
and design of display, and talks on the content and method of health education.
Islington is recognised as having one of the most forward health education services in the country and
groups of overseas students visit us in order to develop their own services and model them on our lines.
Students from "The Centre for Educational Development Overseas" and nurses from Holland on special
courses were among our visitors this year.
The Women's National Cancer Control Campaign invited the Health Education Officer to lecture its
National Conference on the techniques of Cancer Education. A Geriatric Visitor and the Health Education
Officer gave talks on "Keeping well in old age" and "Health Education Advisory Circles for the over 60's"
at a geriatric training course organised by the London Boroughs Training Committee. The Phillipa Fawcett
Teacher Training College also invited the Health Education Officer to speak to student teachers on "The
dangers of smoking" this being part of their practical health education training.
HOME SAFETY
There's no place like home — to have an accident. We are appalled at the number of deaths on the roads,
but we appear to accept with complacency the devastating toll of life and injury to persons which occurs in
the confines of their homes, possibly because the accident occurs behind closed doors and drawn curtains.
Nevertheless, more people are killed through home accidents than on the roads and, with this in view, much
time is spent in endeavouring to persuade the public to take more care at home. Talks are given at schools
and youth groups; Girl Guide, Cub Scout and similar youth groups are regularly visited by the health
education team. The Health Education Officer acts as an examiner of Duke of Edinburgh's Award
candidates taking home safety as one of their subjects for the bronze and silver award. He was also asked to
act as a judge for the London Borough of Barnet's Inter-Schools Home Safety competition.
The Community Relations Officer is very much aware of the dangers which exist in houses in
multi-occupation where oil heaters are the standard form of heating, and with this in mind he invited the
Health Education Officer to address a meeting of leaders of the immigrant sections of the community in
order to press home the necessity of understanding the inherent dangers which surround one in the home.
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