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GENERAL PUBLIC HEALTH
SHORTAGE OF HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION
It is pleasing to report that during the year the Ministry of
Health confirmed that the proposed developments in the Ilford and
Barking Hospital Group were included in the Minister's programme
of schemes to be centrally financed and it was proposed that if
possible the planning of the scheme should be completed in 1959/60.
It was further stated that although a particular sum had not beet
allocated to the proposals because details were not yet sufficiently
advanced for the cost to be assessed a figure of up to £400,000 would
be considered if this was required.
Arrangements are in hand for selected architects to prepares
preliminary scheme.
HEALTH EDUCATION
In addition to the routine arrangements in being for health
education, special campaigns were mounted for the following themes
During February, March and April the B.B.C. Television service
produced a series of 10 weekly half-hour programme entitled "Your
Life in their Hands." In order to stimulate interest in this series
specially prepared hand-outs were prepared in the Department and
issued from clinics, etc. Public comment collated by health visitors
showed that the content of this series was provocative and denial
strated once again that of all the media open to propaganda televison
is the most potent.
In November support was given to the National campaign
entitled "Guard that Fire." Through the generous help of the Such
John's Ambulance Brigade leaflets were delivered to 15,000 homes
in the Borough, 100 posters were displayed in clinics, doctors surgeries,
etc., colour films were shown at the two local cinemas and
over 700 shops were circularised with publicity material. Specially
prepared medallions were prepared in the department for issue to
shops selling heating appliances in order that they could be attached
to fires, etc. Many shopkeepers co-operated and every help was given
by the local Electricity and Gas Showrooms.
Although a considerable number of man hours of staff
was used in putting this campaign into operation it is probable that
its impact on the town as a whole was considerably less than one
small topical cameo enacted on the television screen.
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