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7.
Health Education was continued by the display of posters and the
issue of leaflets and pamphlets on many important public health matters,
including food hygiene, infectious disease, smoking and cancer of the
lung, and accidents in the home.
The Mass Radiography Unit visited the Borough from 17th July to
27th July 1961. It was intended that efforts should be concentrated
in the Milton and Palatine Wards, Every family in these two Wards was
sent a letter, together with a handbill giving details of the times of
the sessions. The response was poor, the final figures of those
X-rayed being 1,418.
Owing to the redevelopment of the Old Town Hall Site in Milton Grove
it became necessary to find alternative accommodation for the Disinfecting
Station, Stores and Garages. A suitable site was found at 10a, Edwards
Lane and three garages, stores and offices were erected. These premises
were occupied from the 1st July 1961 and disinfection of articles is now
carried out by the Islington Borough Council. These arrangements are
working satisfactorily and have resulted in a considerable financial
saving to this Council.
The extension of Smoke Control Orders in Stoke Newington has made
rapid progress. It has been possible to proceed beyond the original timetable
submitted to the Council and plans for the last two Smoke Control
Orders are already in hand.
The programme to cover the Borough was planned so that each Smoke
Control Area touched at some point on an already established area. As a
result, it has been found that many householders are receptive to the idea
of using smokeless fuels well in advance of an Order being confirmed.
This has probably been an important factor towards the excellent cooperation
which has been received in this work.
There has also been the fullest assistance from the electricity and
gas authorities, whose representatives have been most helpful in advising
householders on the installation of appliances. Although there are not
many industrial furnaces in the Borough, problems have arisen in some
cases over the use of solid smokeless fuel. Advantage has been taken of
the growing technical service provided by the National Coal Board, who
have co-operated with this Department to find fuels which will satisfy
the requirements, both of the consumers and the Smoke Control Orders.
My thanks are expressed to the Chairman and Members of the Public
Health Committee for their support, and to the Chief Officers of other
Departments for their help and co-operation.
Finally my thanks are extended to my Deputy and to the members of
the staff of the Public Health Department for their assistance throughout
the year.
S.KING.
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.