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National arrangements for dealing with incidents involving radioactive substances
are laid down in the Ministry of Health Circular 3/64 and the memorandum
H.M. (64) 11.
The arrangements are intended to cover incidents such as damage to containers
occurring on premises where expert assistance is not immediately available or
accidents to vehicles carrying radioactive substances.
All requests for assistance are channelled through the police, who have been
told where to apply for expert advice and assistance. Instructions have also been
given to the police to notify the Medical Officer of Health. It is his duty to appraise
the extent of the hazard to the public. In the event of contamination of food
supplies, he should take appropriate steps to ensure that it does not reach the
consumer.
No such incidents were reported during the year.
In 1964 the Department of Education and Science, the Ministry of Health, the
Scottish Home and Health Department and the Ministry of Health and Local
Government for Northern Ireland, jointly produced a Code of Practice for the
Protection of Persons against Ionising Radiations arising from Medical and Dental
use.
In respect of those persons exposed to ionising radiations arising from dental
practice in council clinics, the Controlling Authority is the Borough Council.
X-ray machines are used in eight clinics and thirteen persons are involved.
Personnel monitoring by the use of film badges has been carried out for the past
five years. The staff have been advised about the hazards they may meet and about
the precautions to be observed.
Formal compliance with the Code has not yet been achieved, but the necessary
consultations and investigations are continuing.
CIVIL DEFENCE
I am indebted to the Civil Defence Officer for his co-operation during the year
and for supplying the detailed information included in this report.
Ambulance and First Aid Section
Under the London Government Act, 1963, responsibility for the Ambulance
and First Aid Section was vested in the Greater London Council on the 1st April,
1965. The training of this Section was delegated by them to the London Borough
of Enfield as a Corps Authority until 1st April, 1966, and they have requested
further delegation for another six months, pending the outcome of the Government's
Home Defence review, when the Ambulance Service of the Greater London Council
will have more knowledge of the future training requirements for this section.
During the year 1965, the whole of Civil Defence has been overshadowed by
the forthcoming Home Defence Review and by the fact that there has been no
national recruiting and publicity campaign since 1964.
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