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New Equipment.—The visual aids equipment was increased by the purchase of a sound film
projector and screen to meet the heavy demand for screenings received from the welfare centres,
and some of the day hospitals in Westminster. The film "How to have an Accident in the Home"
was also obtained on long lease from Walt Disney Productions.
Talks.—Health Visitors from the Paddington area of the City gave a series of talks to further
education establishments on the following topics:—
Venereal Diseases
Smoking and Health
Nutrition
B. C. G. Vaccination
The talks were illustrated by films, filmstrips and other visual aids, and were received very favourably
by the students.
VENEREAL DISEASES
From 1st April, 1965, the City Council has been responsible for the Public Enquiry telephone on
Venereal Diseases maintained by the former London County Council, and for tracing service contacts
and contacts from abroad for London as a whole.
Notifications relating to contacts residing in London are received from countries abroad through
the Ministry of Health, from the American service hospitals in and around London, and from local
authorities in other parts of the country. One hundred and thirty-two such notifications were
received during 1966 and 79 of the contacts (60%) were traced and brought to treatment by social
workers provided by the City Council and working at three of the five local venereal disease clinics.
Plastic coated metal notices produced by the Health Department have been placed in all City
Council public conveniences giving details of the availability of treatment at the local clinics, the
names and addresses of other clinics in the London area and the public enquiry telephone number;
an average of three telephone calls a day is received on this line.
(See also section dealing with the work of the Social Workers, and Table 48, page 86).
NURSING HOMES
It is the responsibility of the Health Department under Part 6 of the Public Health Act, 1936 to
register and supervise at regular intervals all nursing homes in the area. In addition to the seven
nursing homes already registered in the City of Westminster, a further home was registered in 1966.
All the homes take medical and surgical patients and, of these, three are registered to take maternity
patients and one registered under Part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1959 to take patients suffering
from mental illness. Two of the homes are non-profit making.
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
During 1966,139 examinations were carried out by the Health Department for the certification of
Blind and Partially Sighted persons under the provisions of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
This service is carried out in liaison with the City Council's Welfare Department who provide
welfare services for registered Blind and Partially Sighted persons. Forty-seven certificates were
also accepted from hospitals and other local authorities.
Medical Examinations
During 1966, 817 persons attended the medical suite at the City Hall for physical examination
or interview, and ten members of the public attended for vaccination against smallpox. Of the 817,
82 were members of the public who had applied for exemption from payment of parking meter
fees, and 19 were members of the staff who were examined because they were on extended sick
leave. Thirteen persons were retired on grounds of permanent ill health.
First aid was given to 532 persons; 27 were referred to hospital and 22 to their own general
practitioners.
During the second half of the year the system of a physical medical examination of every applicant
for entry to the Council's superannuation scheme was replaced by the issue of a medical questionnaire,
and only those whose answers varied from the normal were interviewed or examined. This
change has lessened the number of persons attending the medical room for physical examination,
but because of the considerable turnover of staff, the actual number examined is still high.