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worth in giving relief from their children to the mothers attending, and it is felt
that these clubs have definite therapeutic value. At one club 6th form girls from
a local grammar school have joined the mothers at their meetings - a useful
contact for both groups.
Working parties planned and prepared stands for the Dental Care Exhibition
and the Safety Exhibition, and staff manning them found the young - and not
so young - members of the public an interested audience.
The Health Education Sub-Committee continued to meet monthly, choosing
material for display, discussing types of display, reviewing new material and
generally disseminating information. The enthusiasm of the staff is reflected in
the increasing demands for material made to the Department.
IN-SERVICE TRAINING 1971
Training this year has covered a wide spectrum. As well as attending
courses on Family Planning, Film Projection, Hearing Test Techniques and other
subjects closely allied to their every day work, staff have been seconded to courses
emphasising rehabilitation within the community, e.g. "stroke" patients, spina
bifida children, epileptics, renal dialysis etc.
A study day on Health Education in schools for nursing staff was arranged.
A Head Teacher, himself an enthusiastic health educator — spoke on the need to
integrate health education into the school curriculum, and a member of the I.L.E.A.
Health Education Team spoke on sex education in Junior Schools.
A course for Playgroup Helpers — held in the new Streatham Common
Child Health Centre — was well attended, and the fact that many participants
asked for an extension of the course may be some indication of the interest
shown.
The Playgroup Leaders requested — and received — a lecture on First Aid
in Playgroups, and a talk from a Nursing Officer in the D.O.H.S. on Mental
Handicap. A film and the sincere concern of the lecturer highlighted the needs of
the mentally handicapped within the community and in residential care.
The Home Help training continued with visits of interest, and nursing staff
continue to participate in the training of House Mothers at Shirley Oaks.