View report page

45
appointments for a routine examination by the doctor, but the
Clinic will be open for any other mothers who wish to come for
health education sessions. Films, demonstrations and discussions
are being planned and it is hoped that before long requests will
come from the mothers for talks on subjects which interest them
most. Once again the aim of the teaching will be to prepare
parents for the next stages of child development both physical
and emotional and for the stresses and problems of the first
year at school.
Mothers' Clubs.
There are two flourishing Mothers' Clubs in existence and a
third one is shortly to be opened. They are held in the evening
when mothers are able to attend without their children and can
be free and unharrassed to discuss problems, relax and enjoy, the
friendly atmosphere. The clubs were organised and launched by
the Health Visitors in the areas and are now run by the mothers
themselves, who also draw up their programme of activities. This
is real education, enlisting the active participation of individuals.
Its objective is less to inculcate rules than to
create "a health mindedness" and once again to help prepare
parents for the next stage ahead with their children - in this
case teenage problems loom large. However, a medical philosopher
Dr. Rene Dubos has said that change and struggle are essential
conditions of life - a paradise is static, but life is dynamic
and existence free from stress is an idle dream.
In-Service Training
Short sessions to demonstrate new material, films and filmstrips
to Doctors, Health Visitors and District Nurses were
arranged during the winter and spring.
In October two whole study days were organised and attended
by nursing representatives from all the hospitals in the Croydon
Group, District Nurses, Health Visitors and Public Health
Inspectors - half the staff attending on each day. The theme
was "Some Methods and Media in Health Education". Following an
introduction by Dr. S.L. Wright, the programme consisted of a
film "Successful Instruction" which illustrated the principles
of didactic teaching,a demonstration of all kinds of visual aids
involving participation and a session on group discussion methods
lead by Mrs. M. Fassam, a Consultant in Industrial Human
Relationships.
Snoking and Lung Cancer Campaign.
See School Section of the Report - Page 7 -