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V. MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
ACCIDENTS IN THE HOME
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.
Health education for the prevention of home accidents has continued throughout the year,
with particular reference both to those groups at greatest risk and to the most prevalent
causes.
Inquests were held during the year on 19 fatalities in the borough arising from
accidents which occurred in the home, including 6 from falls, 5 from poisoning, 2 from
carbon monoxide and 1 from burns Many children were admitted to hospital or treated as
out patients after swallowing medicines in tablet or capsule form.
Special publicity is arranged each year regarding home accident prevention including
the necessity for preventing medicines and other dangerous materials from being accessible
to children and for precautions to be taken during the "Firework season".
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.
ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY MACHINES
During the year the Council undertook the work, and bore the cost, of carrying out
necessary adaptations including plumbing, electricity and water supplies to three more
dwellings in the borough where renal dialysis machines were being installed, two by St.
Bartholomews Hospital and one by the London Hospital. The cost of adaptation was £1,400.
AUTHENTICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES
OF VACCINATION AND INOCULATION
Persons proceeding abroad are required in certain countries to produce acertificate
of recent successful vaccination and/or inoculation, and in addition the signature of the
vaccinating dcrctor must be verified by the Medical Officer of Health of the district.
During the year 6,848 signatures on certificates were verified as those of medical
practitioners practising in the borough and the certificates endorsed accordingly,
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
For the purpose of the Council's scheme for providing welfare services under the
National Assistance Act 1948 for the blind and partially sighted, it is necessary to
arrange medical exanmnations in connection with the certification of such persons. The
department arranged 74 examinations by a consultant ophthalmologist during the year, and
certificates accepted f rom other 1ocal authorities, hospitals and private ophthalmologists
numbered 68 Transport to the clinic for examination is arranged for these persons where
necessary
BURIALS
Section 50 of the National Assistance Act 1948 places a duty on the Council to
arrange for the burial of any person found dead within the borough where no private
arrangements have been made
Burials undertaken during the year numbered 57 (Statistics on page 78)
CHIROPODY
Treatment is provided free to old persons in receipt of retirement pensions,
expectant mothers, school children and the physically handicapped.
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