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The clinics are staffed by five full time and four part-time
dental officers.
The success of this service is mainly dependent on the cooperation
of the Medical Officers and Health Visitors.
The progressive overall increase in attendances at the clinics
of the under five year group is in no small measure due to this
co-operation and also to the patience and understanding of the
Dental Officers.
HEALTH EDUCATION
Venereal Diseases
Syphilis and gonorrhoea are still among the most important
preventable diseases in the world. Although preventable and
curable, they still continue to damage the health of the nation. It
is, therefore, important that we should all know what these diseases
are, how they can be prevented and cured.
Publicity material on this subject, in the form of posters and
leaflets, have been acquired and circulated to many senior schools,
Youth Clubs, etc., within the Borough and where schools are concerned,
selected teachers have given talks on the preventive
measures, and other topics of Health Education.
The Health Department have circulated over 300 posters on
V.D., overprinted showing the Treatment Clinics within and around
the London Borough of Bromley, and of these 153 have been
exhibited in all Public Conveniences, with orders that should these
posters be defaced replacements are immediately available.
Lectures by the Health Education Officer on Venereal Diseases
have been given to various Youth Clubs, Ranger Groups and many
Parent/Teacher Associations.
Smoking
The decision to smoke or not is the prerogative of the individual
for, in Britain, everyone over the age of 16 has the legal
right to smoke. Expense is the most common reason for reducing
or stopping smoking, closely followed by ILL HEALTH.
As regards the younger element, the common reasons given
by children for starting to smoke, are curiosity, the wish to demonstrate
maturity, the desire to be like others or the obligation to
accept a proffered cigarette.
Every adult admired by children could set a good
example by not smoking in their presence—the importance of
example cannot be over-emphasised.
With these problems in mind, the Health Department arranged
for many talks to be given at schools, by films, the publication of
posters, the issue of many types of leaflets to Libraries, Youth Clubs,