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Foam Baths.—Installation of foam baths is nearing completion and a booking system will be
introduced.
Medical Examinations.
Staff.—The Medical Officer of Health is medical adviser to the Council for staff purposes. During
1964 one hundred and five examinations of Council employees and new entrants to the superannuation
scheme were carried out.
Parking Meter Exemptions.—The Council is empowered in certain circumstances to give exemption
from parking meter charges to a person who is severely disabled. During the year, thirty-eight
applications were referred to the Medical Officer of Health for observations and, if necessary, medical
examination.
Home Safety.
The provisional figures for 1964 indicate that 8,600 people died in Great Britain as a result of
accidents at home. Yet again these fatalities exceeded in total the number killed on the roads, but the
publicity given to this subject is so insignificant that few members of the public are aware of the
great seriousness of the problems presented by home accidents.
Four-fifths of the victims are children of under 5 years of age and persons over 65 years of age.
With the present division of responsibility the local health authority are better able to give advice and
help in respect of the under five's and the local authority similarly in respect of the over 65's. One
group thought to be at special risk is the housebound elderly. Through the good offices of the St.
Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association the assistance of the voluntary visitors was obtained
in discovering what specific risks existed in the homes of the people they visit. Their reports showed
the presence of various possible hazards, and the two women public health inspectors attended to
these matters. Although some of the cases could only be dealt with informally, where the hazard
constituted a " nuisance " within the meaning of the Public Health (London) Act official action was
taken.
In view of the increasing number of outbreaks of fire in domestic premises, the Department gave
special publicity to this subject. A " Fire Prevention Code for the Home ", prepared by RoSPA,
was sent to five thousand residents, including all the Borough Council tenants, and this subject was
the theme of exhibitions staged by the Department at bazaars held by both the local Conservative and
Labour Parties. As in previous years, pamphlets and bookmarks were distributed through the public
libraries and posters were displayed at all possible sites. In addition, publicity was given to the
Children's Nightdresses Regulations, details of which are given below.
The Children's Nightdresses Regulations, 1964.
It has been estimated that accidental ignition of clothing accounts for approximately 300 deaths
and 1,000 injuries annually, and a significant proportion of the victims are young children whose
nightwear has caught fire. As a result of the increased public awareness of the fire hazards from such
clothing, the Secretary of State made the Children's Nightdresses Regulations, 1964, under powers
conferred upon him by Section 1 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1961.
The Regulations, which came into force on 1st October, 1964, (i) require all nightdresses coming within
their scope to be made of a fabric (including trimmings and thread) which conforms to the low
flammability requirements of British Standard 3121:1959; (ii) require nightdresses made from fabrics
which have been chemically treated to make them flame resistant to have a durable label stitched to
the nightdress, warning against washing it with soap or soap powder and against boiling or bleaching it;
(iii) apply to all children's nightdresses sold or offered for sale after the 1st October irrespective of the
date of manufacture; and (iv) confer on London boroughs (Metropolitan Boroughs until 31st March,
1965) power of inspection, testing and enforcement. The Regulations will not apply to any nightdresses
sold by or on behalf of a person not acting in the course of a business or to those sold or held
for export.
The main provisions of the Regulations were brought to the notice, by letter, of every known retailer
of children's nightdresses in the Borough.
Personal Health Services.
The local health authority is responsible for either providing these services or arranging for them
to be provided by some other organisation. In the Administrative County of London this matter is
the responsibility of the London County Council, and the services provided include maternity and
child welfare, vaccination and immunisation, health visiting, domestic help, day nurseries, midwifery,
ambulance and mental health.