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The work of the Bexley, Erith and Crayford Home
Safety Committee continued to make progress. In an attempt
to prevent accidents from poisoning in the home,
display cards were sent to all doctors and chemists in the
Urban District for use in their waiting rooms and shops,
urging parents to keep drugs and medicines in places where
children would not have access to them. A brains trust
and film show were also held, which was well attended particularly
by senior schoolchildren. It is hoped to intensify
this propaganda by giving regular talks and demonstrations
to the latter and one is driven more and more to the conclusion,
in these days when television and other distractions
tend to keep people tied to their homes, that in the senior
schoolchildren lies the main hope of any future development
in regard to health education in general.
It is pleasing, once again, to record that the Crayford
Old People's Welfare Committee has continued to do excellent
work in alleviating the lot of many old people by
friendly help, by assistance in kind when necessary, by making
arrangements for inexpensive holidays and in other ways.
Their work, to some extent, co-ordinates and is complementary
to, that of the many Old People's organisations in the
Urban District providing clubs and other recreational facilities.
The work of this voluntary organisation is of immense
value to the old people in the District. The domestic help
service and, more recently, the night attendance and family
help services provided by the Local Health Authority, also
play a vital part in relieving the lot of many old people
who would otherwise have to be admitted to institutions.
During the year, Mr. R. Milligan, the Senior Sanitary
Inspector, retired after a quarter of century of service with
the Crayford Council. Our best wishes are extended to him
in his retirement.
In conclusion I wish to thank the Chairman and Members
of the Health Committee for their support and encouragement,
and the Chief Sanitary Inspector, Chief Clerk
and all members of the Health Department for their excellent
service during the year.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN LANDON,
Medical Officer of Health.
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