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The existing bacteriological service provides, among the many and varied
duties carried out by Dr. Bousfield, for the examination of throat and nose swabs
forwarded to the Research Laboratories at Denmark Hill at any hour of the day
up to midnight including Saturdays and Sundays. The Council should consider
whether the interests of patients and the convenience of doctors sending material
for examination could be better served by transferring these duties to the Health
Centre a few hundred yards away.
On the other hand there are distinctions in character of the work performed
by the Public Analyst at his laboratory at Lewisham. The main considerations
in the case of bacteriological examinations are those of urgency and facility, but
these considerations do not apply with the same force in respect of analytical
examinations.
If, however, the Council favour the inclusion of these two branches of the
Public Health Service in the new Health Centre, one floor of the building should
be reserved for these purposes.
The cost of equipping up-to-date laboratories may approach the sum of
£1,500, and consideration would in all probability have to be given to the question
of the appointment of laboratory assistants.
School Treatment Centre.
In November last a communication from the Medical Officer of Health,
London County Council, was considered by the Council in which reference was
made to discussions which had taken place between the Officers of the respective
authorities as to the possibility of providing in one building facilities for the
conduct of the Council's Health Services and the School Medical Services.
It was pointed out that the school treatment centre in Addington Square
is inadequately housed and the voluntary committee undertaking on behalf of
the London County Council dental treatment and the treatment of minor ailments
of school children in the district would no doubt be very glad to remove to
better premises provided an agreement on terms could be reached.
The Council accordingly agreed to provide the required accommodation
in the new Health Centre. In considering this proposal in relation to the several
services to be established in the Centre, it may be found on further examination
that special accommodation and equipment may not be necessary to meet the
requirements of the school medical treatment services, if the use of the infant
welfare centre accommodation, medical consulting rooms, dental clinic. X-ray
and electro-medical departments were placed at the disposal of the London
County Council when not required by the Council.
Physical Culture.
Should the Council decide to offer facilities to any organisation in the
Borough desiring the use of the Centre premises for " Keep Fit " and " Health
and, Beauty" Classes, gymnasium equipment and a piano will be necessary for
this purpose.
Transfer of Services.
With regard to the services to be transferred to the new building, the
tenancy agreement of the infant welfare centre premises at 140, Camberwell
Road, will require to be terminated. The transfer of the Diphtheria Prevention
Clinic at present conducted at a Municipal Infant Welfare Centre would be merely
a question of arrangement.
I am of opinion that with the exception of ophthalmic treatment and tonsils
and adenoids operations the whole of the work involved in the Council's Minor