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Mr. James Mangar (Social Worker assisting me) again attended Harrow Road for regular sessions
where he also was available for consultation. Many problems were brought to Mr. Mangar directly,
others were referred by social agencies. Problems included those of accommodation and housing,
matrimonial and family matters as well as those resulting from immigration regulations. Mr. Mangar
visited a number of people in their homes, particularly as in cases of friction and misunderstanding
prolonged conciliatory work is necessary entailing a great deal of after care. Many visits are necessary
outside normal office hours.
HEALTH EDUCATION
In addition to the health education activities mentioned earlier in this Report the Department
arranged two special projects during the year. The first was connected with Mental Health Week
when films on mental health were screened by kind permission of the Salvation Army at their
Regent Hall, Oxford Street, W.1 during the lunch hours for members of the public. Other film shows
on mental health were arranged at Maternal and Child Welfare Centres in the Victoria and
Paddington areas of Westminster. The second project concerned child development and three
separate programmes dealing with hearing, vision and examination of the pre-school child were
organised at the City Hall and Lisson Grove Maternal and Child Welfare Centre for the Department's
professional staff. General practitioners and staff from local hospitals were also invited to attend.
In order to further health education in the City, the Department possesses sound film projectors,
screens, films and film strips, flannelgraphs and other visual aids as well as a very comprehensive
library of booklets, pamphlets, posters and leaflets, many in various languages covering all aspects
of the Health Department's work. Talks using these aids were given by medical officers, health
visitors, social workers and the health education assistant at the City Hall, Maternal and Child
Welfare Centres, Colleges for Further Education, schools, and to local groups. Topics included
home safety, general health, nutrition, anatomy, B.C.G. vaccination, venereal diseases, smoking
and health and general hygiene.
A film on the residential care of mentally subnormal children entitled "Warrendale" was screened
in the City Hall for professional staff of the Health, Children's and Welfare Departments; 83 persons
attended.
A total of 197 films were screened during the year.
The administrative assistant for health education represented the City Council at the National
Home Safety Conference which took place at Southport in October and other members of the
Department attended the quarterly meetings of the Greater London Home Safety Council.
NURSING HOMES
It is the responsibility of the Health Department under Part VI of the Public Health Act 1936 to
register and supervise at regular intervals all nursing homes in the area. Two new nursing homes
were registered during 1968 making a total of ten registed nursing homes in the City of Westminster.
All the homes take medical patients, in addition to which six take surgical patients, three take
maternity patients and one is registered under Part III of the Mental Health Act 1959 to take patients
suffering from mental illness. Three of the homes are non-profit making.
Under Section I of the Abortion Act 1967, which came into operation on 27th April, 1968, six
of the 10 registered nursing homes applied to and were approved by the Department of Health and
Social Security (formerly the Ministry of Health) to take patients for treatment for the termination
of pregnancy.
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
During 1968, 145 (118) 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. Of these 87 were new cases and 58 were re-examinations. This service is carried out in
liaison with the City Council's Welfare Department which provides welfare services for registered
Blind and Partially Sighted persons. Forty five certificates were also accepted from hospitals and
other local authorities.