Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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GENERAL PROVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICES FOR THE AREA.
Legislation.—The Public Health Act, 1936, became
operative on 1st October, 1937.
Public Health Propaganda.—Commencing in
October on the inauguration of the National Health
Campaign, a series of Health Days, at approximately
monthly intervals, was held in the Borough. Each
Health Day included a cinema display of health films
to older school children, an afternoon meeting for
mothers with health talks and cookery demonstrations,
and an evening public meeting. Large audiences of
children were obtained, and the displays were appreciated.
1 should like to thank the teachers of the
Borough for their perfect organisation of attendance,
and for the keen interest they have shown in the
health campaign. The response to the afternoon
meetings for mothers was encouraging, but attendances
at evening meetings were small. The subjects dealt
with were nutrition,, the prevention of disease, and
physical fitness. Experience of this campaign tends
to prove that public health teaching is most effective
through the schools and clinics.
Nursing Associations.—There are three Nursing
Associations in the Borough named after the respective
districts of Sutton, Cheam, and Worcester
Park, which employ a total of fourteen nurses. There
has been a continuous expansion of their work, and
they have also co-operated with the Surrey County
Council in the operation of the Midwives Act, 1936.
Returns of cases nursed through each Association in
relation to Maternity, Midwifery, Pneumonia, and
Infectious Diseases were received at the end of the
year, and indicate the extensive and valuable services
which these Associations provide. .
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