[Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Portsmouth Borough.

  • Portsmouth (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1959
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Portsmouth Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Preliminary arrangements were made for the publication of a new edition of the Health Services Handbook, which should be ready later in 1960. A modest “Falls in the Florae” campaign was conducted in November, to coincide with national publicity initiated by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Towards the end of the year two new projects were put in hand — obtaining a tape recorder; and fitting the new Paulsgrove (Falmouth Road) Clinic with a spring-roller filmstrip screen. If the latter proves a success, then the three other permanent clinics can similarly be equipped with their own screens in the future, thus making the filmstrip projector more readily available (as, by itself, it could be taken in a small private car, or even on a ’bus; whereas at the moment projector and screen have to be transported by the Department’s vans). CANCER EDUCATION The seventh Annual General Meeting of Portsmouth Cancer Education Committee was held in April, 1959 — for the first time in that month, previous Annual Meetings having taken place in November or December. Mr. John Wakefield, b.a., Executive Officer, the Manchester Committee on Cancer, gave an encouraging account of “Cancer Education” in that area, illustrated by a special flannelgraph (a copy of which was subsequently purchased). In June the Central Office of Information film “Facts and Figures (Smoking and Lung Cancer)” — a copy of a recording of a B.B.C. television programme — was shown to a group of head masters and head mistresses of secondary schools, a number of whom intended to book it for showing to their older children. A further £50 (for the emergency relief of cancer patients) was received from the Marie Curie Memorial Foundation, as their original grant was nearly exhausted. The three copies of the coloured filmstrip “The Problem of Lung Cancer” (concerned mainly with the dangers of cigarette smoking) continued to be circulated to secondary schools (together with leaflets and posters), and attracted favourable comment. A total of 14 schools has now seen this strip. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report would be incomplete if I did not record my thanks to all members of the staff who have given me their loyal support and help. While 1 should like to name many, I will mention only Dr. Roberts who, after handing over the leadership of such a successful team, returned to the staff temporarily until Dr. Woodrow’s successor could take up his appointment. Finally, may I thank the Chairmen and members of the several Committees for their assistance and encouragement during my first months in office. 1 am, my Lord Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, P. G. ROADS, Medical Officer of Health. February, 1961.