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Talks are necessarily recorded according to the principal subject of each talk. Topics
such as prophylaxis and the prevention of accidents, besides forming the basis of separate
talks, are also included within the scope of many general talks on the care of mothers and
young children.
A valuable supplement to the efforts of the health visitor is provided by leaflets and
posters and the department stocks a changing supply of about 400 different leaflets and
260 kinds of posters.
The services of the divisional staffs are always available to head teachers for advice and
assistance in planning health education in schools and for giving special talks. At the
invitation of head teachers school health visitors give a regular series of talks in many
schools. While primarily on mothercraft, the talks extend over a broad range of health
subjects. Over 4,000 such talks were given during the year.
A series of lectures was also given in connection with the National Nursery Examination
Board Certificate and the Home Office Senior Child Care Reserve course, as well as talks
to hospital student nurses and medical students.
Films and filmstrips—There has been an increasing demand for films and filmstrips in the
presentation of talks and discussions, as indicated in the following table of requests received
from divisions:
1957 1958 1959 1960
Films 270 325 364 473
Filmstrips 477 446 977 1,094
The department's own library provided films on 90 occasions and all the filmstrips. In
addition to those supplied centrally, divisions hold a number of filmstrips for exclusive
local use.
Special campaigns and exhibitions—For several years the Council has participated in the
Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia for the purpose of publicising means of reducing high
fire risks and of escape in case of fire. This year the Council's theme was widened to include
safety in the home and this department joined with the Architect's department in mounting
and staffing the stand. Over 40,000 copies of a specially prepared leaflet embracing both
aspects of the display were distributed, as well as some 42,000 leaflets on specific aspects
of home safety. The Council's stand attracted much attention from visitors to the exhibition
and the staff had many opportunities of discussing individual problems.
The Council again took part in the annual country-wide 'Safety in the home' campaign.
A special feature was the production, in co-operation with the Home Counties, of a
60-second home safety film which was shown on Independent Television during the
campaign week. The potential viewing audience was estimated at 1,700,000 families.
Home safety week in the divisions stressed particularly falls and poisoning. The co-operation
of the metropolitan borough councils and other organisations was sought and the
amount of material distributed—21,000 posters, 560,000 leaflets and 90,000 bookmarks—
is some indication of the intensive work undertaken locally.
At a 'Be safer in your home' exhibition organised by Islington Borough Council the
department provided exhibits on hazards to children and the stand was manned by health
visitors from local welfare centres. A fully equipped accident ambulance was stationed at
the exhibition for inspection by the public.
As a contribution to World Mental Health Year members of the public were specifically
invited to attend open days at training centres for the mentally subnormal. A specially
prepared leaflet, which described simply the changes brought about by the Mental Health
Act, 1959 and outlined the provisions made by the Council for the care of the mentally
disordered, was widely distributed.
During April and May a six-week poliomyelitis vaccination publicity campaign was
mounted, directed particularly at those between 25 and 40 years of age. Extensive use
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