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13
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 1958.
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 food
stuffs and has operated in close association with the Central Public
Health laboratory service in 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.