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45
Separate vehicles are kept for small-pox and for other infectious diseases. A
closed conveyance is also provided for bringing patients home again after their
discharge from hospital. This arrangement is very valuable in protecting the
health of children whose parents are unable to afford a suitable conveyance
when discharged from hospital during cold and wet weather. These conveyances
are disinfected each time after use.
Unavoidable, but regrettable, delay occurs in the present system of
transport to Winchmore Hill Hospital. The transfers should be undertaken
by the Hospital Board, as advised by the Government years ago.
In March I reported to the Sanitary Committee that the driver and transporter
were out with the ambulance from 8.45 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the following
morning. The notification arrived late, and at that time of night it is not easy
to assemble the men, the horse and the ambulance, all four of whom reside in
different places. The child died soon after reaching the hospital.
In April, a new and larger notice board was placed outside the Town Hall,
directing attention to the provision made for dealing with cases of infectious
disease notified during the week-ends or public holidays. When the Town
Hall is closed, an inspector calls mornings and afternoons and attends to any
notifications that have arrived; four persons take the duty in turn.
DISINFECTION.
Rooms are disinfected after the removal of the patient by spraying with a
1-in-20 solution of formalin. Linen and cotton articles are steeped in a
disinfecting solution in the room previous to being washed, and articles of
clothing, bedding, etc., are removed to the disinfecting station in a van provided
for that purpose by the Council, where they are treated in a Washington-Lyon
steam disinfector. After treatment, the bedding, etc., are returned in a separate
van used only for conveying disinfected articles.
Disinfectants.—These continue to be supplied to callers, mostly
children, on the same lavish scale as heretofore. It is supplied undiluted, but
in proper bottles and with labels as prescribed by "The Disinfectants Order,"
of nth October, 1912, and circular letter of the Local Government Board of
14th April, 1913.
Much of it is lost as the youngsters carry it home, or whilst "skylarking."
Suitable restrictions on its supply would save hundreds of pounds of the ratepayers'
money and many hours of the valuable time of my inspectors and clerks.
Disinfecting Station.—The transfer of this from Pickett's Lock Lane
to tbe Town Hall has been decided upon. (See report of S.M.O.).