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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 continued experience has confirmed the
view expressed for many years, that the occupation by the Health
Department of a separate building of a suitable character to which the
puDlic may readily come for help and advice in regard to the numerous
health and social problems with which they are often faced, and where
some services are available is of great value
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 bacteriological examination of milk and other
ana has operated in close association with the Central Public Heaitn
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 when the disease
has Deen prevalent
Owing to the deficiency in the establishment of the Public Health
Inspector.-, full use of the laboratory has not been made, for the
examination of foods This was particularly the case in 1960
The services of the Laboratory Technician have been available for
a limited number of Domiciliary visits when these have been called
for- The following tables set out the work undertaken in the years
1956 1960
1.6