View report page

HEALTH EDUCATION
Mr. R. W. Allen, M.A.P.H.I., Health Education Officer
This year has again seen growth in the size of the section and the scope of the work,
which can be summarised as follows:—
(a) The giving of information about the health service by means of press releases,
talks to groups of the public and to schools, etc., and the production of another
edition of "Guide to the Health Services."
This, naturally, involves close co-operation with the Public Relations Officer's
Department at Catford.
(b) The arranging of talks, discussions, films, fiimstrip slides and tape shows on
health and home safety hazards, and their prevention by means of immunisation,
screening tests, exercise and appropriate change of habit, etc. Posters
and pamphlets are designed and printed and these, together with many available
from other sources, are used to amplify the various messages. Demonstrations
and exhibitions are also organised.
(c) The arranging of in-service training lectures for staff.
(d) The production and distribution of a quarterly 20-page Health Bulletin
(circulation 7,500).
(e) Co-operation with teachers in various schools in "liberal studies" courses
involving sex education and the arranging of talks on similar subjects when
requested.
Early in the year the section was invited by the Warden of Goldsmiths'
College to arrange for a speaker and organise a week's exhibition on "Community
Care of the Adolescent in Lewisham". This was in connection with their annual
education conference. Dr. E. Vincent, S.M.O., spoke for the Health Department
and Mr. Noel Hustler, Children's Officer, spoke about the work of the Children's
Department, particularly that concerned with adolescent problems.
Students come for help on various health projects, but tend now to come in groups
rather than singly, which accounts for the drop in the number of sessions.
Home safety continues to involve the section. Many examples of misuse of heating
appliances and hazards of various kinds are referred by health visitors and social
workers so that practical advice can be given by the home safety officers.
The appointment of a second home safety officer, who had previously been involved
in civil defence, allowed the section to arrange an extensive series of "Kiss of Life"
talks and demonstrations, especially in schools. During the year more than 4,000
people have been taught and have had an opportunity to practise resuscitation on
the models used by the section. This will no doubt be a regular part of the work in
future.
Co-operation with the Library Service helps to provide text books for staff and
reprints from journals not circulated by the section. In this respect the section makes
much use of LOGA, the Local Government Annotations Service.
Three lunch-time talks were given to the staff, as follows:—
The Cultural Background of West Indians Dr. Violet Moody
The Need for Breast Feeding for the First Two Weeks Prof. Eric Stroud
Geriatrics—the Link Between the Hospital and the L.A. Dr. Peter Meisner
In view of the importance of health education on the subject of obesity, an
experimental slimming club was run at a new health centre. The lessons learned
will be applied to more of such clubs at centres throughout the Borough.
The section produced a series of colour slides showing "The Work of a Health
Visitor" and "A Day at a Day Nursery". Together with suitable scripts these will
be used to give a more local flavour to talks on these subjects.
48