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34
On 27th June, 1961, the Minister of Health made a statement in the
House of Commons giving information relating to the future of the
London post-graduate teaching hospitals. After outlining his proposals
for various hospitals in the central London area, the statement concluded—
"The proposals involve redevelopment of the sites now occupied by
the Chelsea Hospital for Women and St. Luke's Hospital. The Chelsea
Hospital for Women will be rebuilt adjacent to Queen Charlotte's. St.
Luke's Hospital urgently needs to be replaced, and I am satisfied that
satisfactory alternative geriatric provision can be made for the area;
specific proposals will emerge from consideration of the 10-year plan
for the South-West Metropolitan Region."
At the time of preparing this report in May, 1962, no further information
has been forthcoming from the Ministry concerning these proposals.
Health Education
Section 298 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, provides that
"... a sanitary authority may arrange for the publication of information
on questions relating to health or disease, and for the delivery of lectures,
and the display of pictures (including cinematography displays) in which
such questions are dealt with."
In his Report for the year 1953, the Chief Medical Officer of the
Ministry of Health stated: "Progress (in health education) has now
so far developed that there must be few public health departments in the
country where health education receives indifferent attention . . . Health
education has come to mean something more than a subsidiary function
and responsibility; it is now regarded as a primary activity of local
authorities, which demands sound understanding and wise planning if
it is to attain any reasonable measure of achievement. . ".
It is impossible for a local authority department with a modest
budget to compete with the high power advertising campaigns which are
undertaken in the West End. It was, however, felt that some success
in health education could be achieved by distributing posters and leaflets
to all old people's clubs, youth clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Guide troops,
and to various voluntary organisations in Westminster, for exhibition at
their meeting places.
Accordingly, in June 1961, the City Council agreed that a Home
Safety Campaign should be held in Westminster during November and
December, to supplement the National Fire Prevention Week which
commenced on 30th October, 1961.
Supplies of posters and leaflets, with an appropriate covering letter,
were sent to the above-mentioned organisations, to the secretaries of the
four Council Tenants' Associations, the local Chamber of Commerce,
and the seven Street Associations. Several large departmental stores