View report page

* Lectures by medical officers.
Health education in schools—This is the responsibility of head teachers. The services of
divisional staff are, however, always available for advice and help in planning health
education in schools and for giving special talks.
Whilst a variety of discussions, talks and demonstrations are offered by the public health
department and many schools do a great deal on their own, much more is needed, especially
in boys' schools. The key to the whole matter, it is thought, lies in the emphasis given to
health education in the training of teachers.
Talks given by school health visitors at the invitation of head teachers range over a
variety of subjects and numbered over 4.000 in 1961.
Campaigns and exhibitions—Normally county-wide home safety and diphtheria
campaigns are held annually, sustained for one and two weeks respectively. These campaigns
have involved press advertisements in thirty-eight local newspapers, exhibition of films
and filmstrips at welfare centres, etc. and films or slides at local cinemas, press, radio and
television publicity, special shop window displays and printed slogans on correspondence
envelopes used by the Council. Other campaigns are undertaken in response to requirements,
e.g. poliomyelitis vaccination and mental health.
In 1957 and 1959 exhibitions, in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents, were arranged at Charing Cross underground station on the themes of
'Danger at home' and 'Home, safe home', attendances being some 27,000 and 23,000
respectively. In co-operation with the Architect's department, special exhibits on home
safety were also provided at the Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia in 1960 and 1961.
Displays on a number of health education subjects have been provided in the Council's
own display centre at County Hall and in 1960 a 60-second film was made, in conjunction
with local authorities in the Home Counties, which was shown on independent television
networks.
In 1959 an exhibition was held at County Hall to show what was being done after ten
years of the National Health Service for the health of the people of London and the
opportunities for young people in the health services for interesting and worthwhile careers
in nursing and allied professions. The exhibition was presented by the Council and the
four metropolitan regional hospital boards, in association with the London Executive
Council and the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee.
As already indicated, the Council has participated in various exhibitions run by metropolitan
borough councils.
Displays on health education topics designed and executed by health visitors are a
feature at welfare centres, in particular at three centres which have a shop window front
and can therefore attract a wider public than those who would be attending the centres.
70