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9
The cine camera and projector for the Cerebral Palsy Unit has been
delivered and the film section has now started operation. The technical
qualities of the first films produced by Mr. Sheffield of the School Health
Section have been excellent. These film records will be very helpful in
assessing the progress of the children.
Public and Internal Relations.
Following the excellent seminar which was held towards the end of
last year, a departmental committee has been formed which meets when
necessary to discuss public and departmental relations. One result of this
is that a public opinion poll on a small scale was held in the town. We
distributed approximately 500 questionnaires to members of the public
who are in receipt of our services asking for complaints and suggestions.
The results were very satisfactory and most reassurring to us. They have
been published in one of the medical journals. This public opinion
survey was on a small scale which meant that it cost practically nothing
to carry out and can be repeated at intervals of a few years.
Health Education.
A departmental sub-committee has also been formed to deal with
matters of health education and has already achieved a useful liaison with
the Education Department. Dr. Wright, one of the School Medical Officers,
has been put in charge of the organisation of health education and has
already made a useful start in the schools in an effort to bring the attention
of the older children to the health hazards of smoking.
Health Visitors.
The Health Visiting staff is two below establishment. We are in
the unfortunate position of admitting that some months ago when we
were up to establishment we had regretfully to refuse applications for
appointment.
Last year I mentioned one facet of the work of the Health Visitor—
that of helping the problem family. This year I would like to draw attention
to another part of her work, that is advising handicapped persons with
respect to apparatus and minor gadgets that might alleviate the handicaps.
This help is given both in its major facets where liaison is made with
the County Welfare Committee for the provision of expensive apparatus
and adaptations of homes, and also in its minor aspects with regard to
the provision of small improvised gadgets which can be produced by the
average handyman. One of the Health Visitors has been specially trained
to advise in this matter.
Hospital Services.
The Ilford Borough Council can be justifiably proud in the initiative
it has grasped in bringing pressure to bear on the Ministry of Health for
the provision of further hospital beds in the area. Whilst the optimum,
that is a new hospital, has not been achieved, the Minister has been
persuaded to provide capital funds centrally for the provision of further
much needed beds in the area.
The Hospital Services are to be congratulated in the appointment of
a Geriatric Physician in the group with beds in Ilford Isolation Hospital.
I his service has just begun but we have great hopes of what it might
become Dr.T.B. Dunn, the physician concerned, is making a magnificent
effort in his desire to arrange local co-ordination of the services concerned.