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42
LOAN OF NURSING EQUIPMENT
The Corporation loan equipment and make a small weekly charge.
with exemption for incomes below a certain figure. During the
year the undermentioned loans were made:-
Bed Pans 301
Bed Rests 207
Mackintosh Sheets 310
Feeding Cups 15
Wheel Chairs 31
Commodes 40
Crutches, pairs 1
Air Cushions 294
Bed Cradles 27
Urinals 106
Air Beds 35
Dunlopillo Mattresses 5
Dunlopillo Cushion 1
Bed Pulley 2
Bed Tables 2
Draw Sheets 124
Walking Aid 1
Sputum Mugs 1
Enuresis Machines 6
Ryles Tube 1
Fracture Boards 7
HEALTH EDUCATION
It is only with the co-operation of the community and the personal
effort of individuals that progress towards better health
can be achieved. Health education is thus a fundamental duty of
local authorities. It has two main aspects, the "message", and
the "medium". Direct advice by members of the staff does of course
represent a major contribution to health education, which varies
as scientific knowledge changes. When we consider group instruction,
however, which seeks to alter the views of large sections
of the population, we cannot ignore the influence on the medium
of developing publicity techniques. On this subject, most health
departments need officers with special aptitudes and training
In recognition of this fact, the Corporation allowed the secondment
of a Health Visitor to undertake a full-time Health Education
Course and the establishment of the post of Health Education
Officer. I think this decision will be of great benefit in
strengthening this aspect of the work of the department.