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HEALTH EDUCATION AND HOME SAFETY
This is an aspect of preventive medicine that has interested me intensely throughout my career in the
School Health Service.
In this Borough the service has benefited from the splendid efforts of Mr. J. Bretton who retired in 1972.
His reports were most factual and comprehensive, and contained much practical common sense advice. He was a
popular figure in all the schools. Mrs. Eves, who succeeded him, brought a valuable approach of experience in
health visiting, midwifery and nursing, coupled with a flair for organisation. Both Officers were concerned with
the scheme now developed in the Secondary Schools of education for health and personal relationships. Both
Officers developed the seasonal campaigns on Health Hazards and Home Accidents which are a continuing
feature in schools.
Health Education must be regarded as complementary to Physical Education and the valuable activities of
that section of the Education Department are set out clearly in the final pages of this Annual Report.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Chairman and Members of the Education Committee for their support
and advice in the past year. This Report may well be the last under present arrangements and therefore an occasion
to express the hope that the service given to the Education Authority may continue to be efficient, humane, and
with local understanding of problems.
The Principal Dental Officer, Mrs. C. M. Lindsay, will be retiring in 1973, and I would pay tribute to the
manner in which she has managed the dental service with tact and efficiency throughout our association in the
London Borough of Bromley from 1965.
Dr. P. A. Currie, Principal Medical Officer, supported by Miss D. Gardner, has been responsible for the
day to day medical administration of the service, and it is a tribute to them that problems have been so few, and
that this Report, like its predecessors, has been so precisely compiled.
The co-operation of Mr. Barraclough, Chief Education Officer, of Mr. Chamberlain, and other members of
the Education Staff has been invaluable in giving great support to the School Health Service throughout the year.
Finally, I would offer my most sincere thanks and good wishes for the future to the medical, nursing,
administrative and clerical staff of the School Health Section.
L.R.L. Edwards,
Principal School Medical Officer.
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