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22
PRIORITY DENTAL SERVICE (Table 93)
In 1957 twelve per cent. of the Dental Officers' time was spent in the inspection and treatment
of the priority groups. The number of expectant and nursing mothers was sixteen per cent. higher
than in 1956 and there was a corresponding increase in treatment carried out. The ratio of fillings to extractions
remains constant at 2.3:1.
There has been a decrease of ten per cent. in the number of children under five years who have been
inspected and treated. The ratio of fillings to extractions is 2.7:1. The average number of conservations
(fillings and silver nitrate dressings) carried out for each child treated has increased from 2.9 in 1956 to 3.4
in 1957.
Advice is given on diet and oral hygiene, so that good habits may be started at an early age.
CHIROPODY (Table 94)
During the past year there has been a further increase in the number of chiropody patients.
The main problem is presented by the older school-girls who will insist on wearing ill-fitting shoes,
with the result that they develop deformities, corns or callosities. Most boys wear sensible shoes and therefore
do not suffer so much from foot ailments.
A careful watch is being kept on children under five years of age, because crooked toes and deformed
nails are often produced by small bootees and socks as well as shoes.
Talks on care of the feet were given to expectant mothers and members of the Mothers' Clubs as
well as school children.
Foot infections such as warts and athletes foot were very common. Early treatment will prevent
these infections from spreading and Health Education can play an important part.
The number of expectant and nursing mothers taking advantage of chiropody treatment has
increased, particularly for corns and callosities.
With the extension of health education, more and more people are becoming foot conscious.
HOME SAFETY
The Willesden Home Safety Committee which was formed in November, 1956 has done valuable
work during the year. It is a voluntary committee which has the support of both the Willesden Borough and
the Middlesex County Councils. The Borough Council made an initial grant of £100 to the committee's funds,
and provision for a further grant of £100 has been made in the annual estimates for 1957/58.
The committee's aim is to reduce the number of accidents which occur in homes in Willesden each
year, mostly affecting children under five years and people over 65 years of age. Its terms of reference were
outlined in the report for 1956.
Eighteen local organisations and the Willesden Borough Council are represented on the committee,
which is affiliated to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and has a representative on the
National Home Safety Committee.
Four meetings were held during the year. A protest was sent to the British Medical Association
about the house-to-house distribution of drugs for advertising purposes, because of the danger of these being
picked up by young children. The Association promised to try and prevent this unsatisfactory practice.
Articles on "Accidents in the Home" and "Home Safety" were published in the Willesden Civic
Review and the Bulletin of the Willesden Youth Advisory Committee, and the local press co-operated in
reporting on the committee's activities on several occasions.
Talks were given in many schools and to various local organisations, the total attendances being
approximately 600.
The Housing and Estates Manager of the Willesden Borough Council kindly distributed 4,000 copies
of a pamphlet entitled "Home and Everyday Accidents" with a new rent book issue, and a further 1,000
copies of this leaflet were distributed by members of the committee.
A float decorated with posters and other propaganda items was entered in the Willesden Carnival.
1.500 leaflets and pamphlets were distributed and many enquiries were answered about the activities of the
committee. The float received a 'highly commended' award from the judges.
Three displays were exhibited at the Willesden Show, and more than 4,000 pamphlets were
distributed. The Road Safety Officer exhibited films showing some aspects of the committee's work.
During the National Home Safety Week, organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents, from the 4th-9th November, 1957, members of the committee distributed 1,000 copies of a leaflet
on the "Flammability of Apparel Fabrics". Posters were displayed on the Council's notice boards, in the public
libraries, and in windows of committee members' houses.
Several members attended the Home Safety Session of the National Home Safety Congress, which
was organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents at Central Hall, Westminster, from the
15th-l7th October, 1957.
A sub-committee was set up to deal with the production of a Home Safety Handbook, and this will
be published in July, 1958.