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Libraries, During November, Home Safety Posters and bookmarks dealing with the dangers of falls
and fires were distributed and displayed and in December the dangers of Lung Cancer in particular,
and of smoking in general, were dealt with During December, 15,000 cancer cigarette book
marks were distributed. Summaries of the facts against smoking were distributed to teachers,
youth leaders and voluntary organisations and text and pictorial posters were displayed through
out the Borough showing the dangers of cigarette smoking. I also sent a personal letter to the
members of the youth clubs describing in some detail the risks of smoking.
Health Education is a painfully slow progress, but it is extremely effective. A great deal
of the improvement in the health of babies and school children is due more to health education
than to advances in medical science.
WELFARE OF TOE ELDERLY
Apart from the care given by their family doctors the elderly are assisted mainly by the
Middlesex County Council's Health Visitors, Welfare Workers and Welfare Officers and members
of the voluntary organisations. The work of the voluntary organisations is co-ordinated by the
Edmonton Welfare Association and I submit extracts from the last Annual Report of the Associ
ation:-
Meals-on Wheels Service: During the year this service has broken all previous records
by delivering in the twelve months April 1957 to March 1958, no less than 12,759 meals. It is
considered that the maximum capacity of this service is 12,000 meals per year, e.g. 1,000 meals
per month, but it will be seen from the foregoing figure of 12,759 meals that this number per
month had been exceeded several times.
There is no doubt that this service operated by the Women's Voluntary Service on behalf
of the Association is one of the most outstanding achievements in the field of social welfare
in the Borough. In point of fact, it is one of the most outstanding Meals Services in London.
Whilst its further development is limited by the time factor - meals have to be delivered
between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. - and the need for more voluntary workers to deliver the meals,
the service has not yet refused a 'priority case' but it is being restricted to hospital discharge
cases' and medical cases from local doctors. A survey was held, under the control of
the Middlesex County Council Area Health Visiting Department, and it was found that no one
person could be removed from the service without creating hardship.
The Association acknowledge with very sincere thanks the outstanding work of the Women's
Voluntary Service, especially the work of Mrs. E. Everitt, Meals Organiser, who give so much
of their time to this service, for without them the Meals-on-Wheels Service would cease to
function Our thanks are also due to the Edmonton Borough Council's catering staff and the
transport staff who assist in this excellent service.
Entertainment and Recreation: As in previous years, the Municipal Entertainments Department
of the Council have maintained a comprehensive programme of concerts to all the Old
People s Clubs in the Borough, and in addition there have been special concerts during the
summer months at the Summer Theatre, with a competition for the best artiste from the Old
People's Clubs to go forward to the finals of the Old People's Talent Competition for London.
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