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V. MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES, ETC.
ACCIDENTS IN THE HOME
Inquests were held on 17 fatalities in the borough arising from accidents which
occurred in the home.
Information is received monthly from the Medical Adviser to the Greater London
Council of the number of borough residents removed to hospital by the London Ambulance
Service following the occurrence of home accidents. The total for the year was 564.
An analysis of the figures shows that a large proportion (39%) of accidents are, as may
be expected, sustained by old people.
The powers and duties of the Council under the Home Safety Act 1961, relating to
the dissemination of information and advice for promoting safety in the home and encouraging
proper precautions against accidents, are exerqisable by the Health Committee.
The prevention of home accidents was included in the syllabus of health education for
all groups, with emphasis on the dangers from oil heaters. Particular attention on this
topic was paid to persons in the older age groups. Arrangements were made with the
Housing Departments of the Council and the Greater London Council to include educational
leaflets on home safety when they sent out notifications to tenants of rent/rate increases.
Leaflets thus distributed numbered 34,000.
AMBULANCE FACILITIES
The Greater London Council is responsible under Section 27 of the National Health
Service Act 1946 for the provision of ambulance transport in the area.
AUTHENTICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION AND INOCULATION
Persons proceeding abroad are required in certain countries to produce a certificate
of recent successful vaccination and/or inoculation, and in addition the signature of
the vaccinating doctor must be verified by the medical officer of health of the district .
During the year, 10,049 signatures on certificates were verified as those of medical
practitioners practising in the borough and the certificates accordingly endorsed. The
number authenticated last year was almost quadrupled due to continental countries requiring
travellers from this country to show evidence of recent vaccination against
smallpox following an outbreak in the Midlands.
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
It is necessary,for the purpose of the Council's scheme to provide welfare services
under the National Assistance Act 1948 for the blind and partially sighted,to arrange
medical examinations in connection with the certification of such persons. The department
75.