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need some form of stimulus and support—experience has shown that this
form of therapy can help a minority but that the final decision still rests
with the individual.
With new legislation pending, the major exhibition mounted this
year featured the Community Health Services, which representated the
Department at the Youth Delegate Conference in March and the Harrow
Show in August. The theme could be called "From the Cradle to the
Grave" and there are very few families who do not, at some time, have
contact with one or more sections of the Department. In fact this contact
precedes the cradle, as the health visitors carried out a continuous programme
of health education for expectant mothers in respect of antenatal
instruction and relaxation classes. The husbands are not excluded
and 14 film evenings on child birth were arranged for expectant mothers
accompanied by their husbands, who often contributed much to the
discussion which follows the film. Mothercraft and Infant Welfare also
form part of these courses and the modern mother should be far better
informed and prepared than earlier generations.
The lecture and conference room at Hanover House is put to good
use in respect of the professional meetings and in-service training by all
sections of the department, and groups such as pupil midwives attached
for practical training. It is also used as a projection room to assess films
and other material relevant to health education.
The Council continued to be represented on the Greater London
Home Safety Council which is the link between local authorities and the
National Home Safety Council of R.O.S.P.A. Home accident fatalities
are still running far too high but there is one field in which there has been
a spectacular reduction in the number of accidents i.e. fireworks, which
were the subject of a press release. R.O.S.P.A. has long campaigned against
the dangers and indiscriminate sale of fireworks but it took a "horror"
documentary on television to achieve any major impact. One is told that
education by fear is bad, but in this case it appeared to be effective.
The comprehensive talks programme is available by speakers from
all sections of the department on any aspect of their work. These can be
arranged during the day or evening for any section of the community
ranging from schools to pensioners. Courses can also be arranged for
senior scouts and Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates for whom the
Health Education Officer is often the examiner in respect of home safety.
Women's clubs receive talks on food hygiene and there is no doubt that
these talks, apart from being educational, are a useful form of public
relations: an informed public are far more likely to make maximum use
of the services available; an essential contribution if the health service is to
achieve its aim.