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and the plans for development that are proceeding should greatly
assist the Authority to provide in the not too distant future many of
these essential adjuncts of community care.
Environmental Health Services
Phased programmes are being carried out under the Housing
Act, 1957 and Clean Air Act, 1956.
The Slum Clearance programme, in spite of staff shortage, is
up to schedule; and the Clean Air programme, if assisted by the
appointment of three Technical Assistants, is phased to ensure that
by 1976 a smokeless zoned Borough of Bromley will adjoin the
smokeless zones of its neighbouring boroughs.
The Food Hygiene (Markets, Stalls and Delivery Vehicles)
Regulations. 1966, added to the list of mandatory visits of inspection
by officers of this section of the department. As legislation adds
to mandatory duties, the alacrity with which these can be carried
out varies directly with the number of skilled Inspectors who can be
recruited to the permanent staff and with the skill shown in the
organisation of their manifold duties.
The increasing involvement of the Inspectors through their
work in Development Areas in housing matters is a contribution of
great value to the integration of all the social services in the
department.
Personal Health Services
The increasing work load of midwives and district nurses,
coupled with the 20% establishment deficiency of the former, has
precluded attachments to medical practices. Nevertheless, assistance
has been given to some medical practitioner ante-natal clinics
and to a general medical practice research project.
Ten Health Visitors have been working with groups of medical
practitioners in attachment or liaison schemes but without considerably
more grouping of medical practices, further progress in
this direction will be negligible.
The national trend of increasing private Day Nurseries has been
evident in Bromley. Also, following a national pattern, the demand
for cervical cytology examinations at Local Authority clinics has
fallen in spite of full availability of this service.
Assistance to the Family Planning Association was given by
the provision of free Clinic facilities where these could not be
adequately provided by the Association's clinics sited in Hospital
buildings or other premises.
Health Education with especial reference to Home Safety and
including participation in the national "Medicines with Care"
publicity campaign was an important part of the work of this
department.