View report page

32
HEALTH EDUCATION AND HOME SAFETY
Miss D.S. Elliott, S.R.N., H.V.Cert., Dip. H.E.
Principal Health Education Officer
Staff changes and shortages within the section and in other sections
of the Health Department together with preparations for the impending move
of delicate equipment to Taberner House caused 1967 to be a most difficult
year for health education.
Although no new projects could be attempted the determination and hard
work of the Health Education staff enabled most of the existing work to continue.
For nine months of the year 75% of the discussion groups in Toddlers'
Clinics failed to function, but there was some improvement during the autumn
and plans and programmes were being made to restore the work completely by
January, 1968.
Family Planning
Educational work in this field increased satisfactorily during the year.
Talks were included on the fathers' nights of all Parentcraft Classes and
in Toddlers' Clinic Discussion Groups; a number of requests were received
from Women's Organisations and methods of teaching the subject were demon
strated to groups of students, staff and other visitors to the department
In-Service Training
(1) Mental Health:' Regular fortnightly discussion groups for assistant medical
officers were led by Dr. G. Crosse, Consultant Psychiatrist in the Child
Guidance Clinic. These were often illustrated with case studies or films and
sessions will continue during 1968.
(2) Methods and Techniques in Health EducationA course consisting of
one session a week for eight weeks was given to ten district nurses.
They made excellent progress and are now giving an increasing number
of courses and lectures and informal talks to groups in the community. This
has added another interesting dimension to their work and enabled them to
take a greater share in the promotion of health education.
Croydon Chamber of Commerce
A large section of the population - between the ages of 15 and 65 years
are employed in shops, offices and factories. They have few opportunities
especially in smaller firms for discussion on personal health problems, the
prevention of illness and the promotion of health. Yet time spent on these
aspects of their lives might well result in a reduction of absenteeism, improved
human relationships and a better understanding of work.