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4
A successful dental health campaign was held in March involving 2,500
children aged five years.
Two smoking advisory courses, each comprising six weekly meetings
were held, with encouraging initial success reports, and follow-up is to
be continued. When it is realised that not many people succeed in giving
up smoking at one attempt, the results may underestimate the real value.
Some of the non-successful candidates may yet succeed by their own efforts
at a further attempt. However, the longer term follow-up must be awaited.
Further courses are being arranged for 1971.
Mental Health Services
The staffing position as regards mental health social workers
improved considerably during the year, and with two members of staff
returning to the department after attending courses as a result of which
they obtained their Certificate in Social Work, 50 per cent of the mental
health social workers were professionally qualified at the end of the year,
A house in Kingsdowne Road, Surbiton was purchased for use as a
hostel for the mentally ill. The provision of this hostel accommodation
will enable more such persons to live in the community who otherwise would
have to remain in hospital. Plans were approved for a new Adult Training
Centre and Workshop in Blagdon Road, New Maiden, and it was expected that
building would be commenced early in 1971.
Chiropody
In 1970 there was a 10 per cent increase in treatments recorded in
thi3 valuable service, mainly for the elderly.
Home Help Service
Recruitment of home helps continued to be a great problem, in spite
of repeated advertising and publicity campaigns,, The service operated at
about two-thirds of the establishment. A rather smaller number of hours were
devoted to helping a rather larger number of sick and elderly persons.
Welfare Section
The position as regards accommodation for the elderly improved
during the year as a result of the opening of the first purpose-built old