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by persons who administer drugs intravenously by self-injection, and the occurrence of cases of jaundice has
led to the detection of foci of drug addiction. For these reasons the Minister of Health made the Regulations.
When information is obtained by the Public Health Inspectors that a person suffering from infective jaundice
is a drug addict, the Mental Health Division is informed.
Details of all notifications are forwarded to the North London Blood Transfusion Centre of the
National Blood Transfusion Service. The information enables the Service to delete the patient's name from the
panel if he or she is a donor, and to defer the call-up of close contacts for six months. In addition, it may
enable the Service to stop a recent donation from being used clinically or included in a pool of plasma.
HEALTH EDUCATION
It is the aim of health education to help people strive towards better health and to regard a healthy,
happy mind and body as a valuable asset to living. The Department's health education programme is based
mainly on lectures illustrated by films, filmstrips and other visual aids.
148 talks were given in 25 Brent schools by assistant medical officers, dental officers, health visitors,
chiropodists and public health inspectors. 43 talks were given to outside groups and associations, and 53 to
professional bodies. 577 mothercraft classes and instructional demonstrations were held in the Clinics mostly
by health visitors and midwives. Many requests were received from outside firms and organisations for posters
and leaflets.
A course of lectures for domestic science teachers and others on the services provided by the Department
was organised in collaboration with the Education Department and proved most successful.
From 16th to 26th April, the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board's Mass Radiography
Unit visited Wembley, and an extensive advertising campaign was conducted on their behalf. Public
response was most gratifying and 12,079 people were X-rayed.
A large exhibit depicting the Department's many activities was displayed at the "Welcome to Citizenship"
held in April. This is always enjoyed by the 400 to 500 young people who attend, and a considerable
number of questions were put to the professional staff who were in attendance. A representative display
was mounted in the Civic Services tent at the Brent Show in September.
Mental Health Week from 8th to 14th June was opened by His Worship the Mayor and an exhibition
in the foyer of the Gaumont State Cinema in Kilburn was opened by Miss Eunice Gayson. Two other
displays were arranged beside "Open Days" in mental health establishments, visits, films and discussions, and
a forum. Fuller details are given in the Mental Health Services Section of the Report.
Some of the subjects particularly supported during monthly campaigns were dental care, the need to
lock up drugs, care of the feet, and immunisation. The amendments to the Nurseries & Child Minders Regulation
Act 1948, were also widely advertised.
A miniature skeleton, charts, a small film strip projector, and a film strip pre-viewer were among the
new visual aids purchased during the year and made available to lecturers.
MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS AND MEDICAL REPORTS
New entrants to the Council's service are required to complete a medical assessment form. The forms
are scrutinised by an assessing medical officer and, if considered necessary, further information is obtained
from the entrant's general practitioner or a hospital, and/or a medical examination is carried out. During the
year, 2,059 assessments were dealt with. Further information was obtained from general practitioners in 21
cases, and from hospitals in 27 cases. It was not necessary to carry out any medical examinations.
It is a requirement of the Ministry of Education and Science that all teachers on their first appointment
and applicants for entry to teaching training colleges be medically examined. 174 teachers and 259
trainees were examined by Assistant Medical Officers.
Eleven members of the staff were recommended for retirement on the grounds of permanent ill-
health.