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VI. MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES, ETC.
ACCIDENTS IN THE HOME
Inquests were held on 21 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 613. An analysis of the figures
shows that a large proportion (37%) 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 exercisable by the Health Committee. With a view to
the prevention of home accidents, talks illustrated by films and filmstrips have been given to
those groups shown to be statistically at greatest risk, A specially simplified filmstrip on
the care of oil heaters has been used throughout and in particular to old people and to small
gatherings of immigrants, especially women with young children. Mobile display stands on care
of poisons and medicines and use of oil heaters have also been widely circulated.
Nearly a thousand posters on accidents in the home have been put up on prominent poster
sites and in clinics and public buildings throughout the borough on three occasions during
routine publicity, leaflets also being distributed.
It is sad to record that home accident deaths in Great Britain during 1966 totalled 8,583,
which included 1,719 deaths from poisoning and 951 from burns and scalds.
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, 3,412 signatures on certificates were verified as those of medical practitioners
practising in the borough and the certificates accordingly endorsed.
CONFERENCES
Conferences and courses attended by members of the Council and/or officers of the
department are summarised on pages 129 to 136.
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