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11
SECTION B
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
Health Centre
The Council continued to maintain the Health Centre for the
administration of the Public Health Services, and arrangements continued
in force for the use by the Regional Hospital Board and by the
London County Council of those portions of the building which were
occupied by services transferred to those bodies under the National
Health Service Act, 1946, The Council also continued to act as an
agent for the Regional Hospital Board in respect of certain services
controlled by them.
There is no doubt that the Centre continues to be of value to the
public not only for the services available but as a place to which
they may readily come for help and advice in regard to many health
problems.
Numerous individual visitors and organised parties both from this
country and overseas visited the Health Centre during 1956
All reasonable requests to visit the Health Centre were granted
as the exchange of views and information thus afforded is of mutual
benefit.
Laboratory
The laboratory in the Health Centre has been maintained jointly
with the Regional Hospital Board since 1948 and undertakes the routine
work of the Public Health Department in the control of infectious
disease and the bacteriological examination of milk and other foodstuffs
and has operated in close association with the Central Public
Health laboratory service at Colindale. In addition it continues to
undertake simple routine pathology on behalf of the Chest Clinic,
other clinics in the Health Centre and of medical practitioners in the
district.
A particular feature has been the large use made of the facilities
for the taking and examination of swabs for the early diagnosis
of Whooping Cough. This has been of particular value.