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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
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 public 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 foodstuffs, 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 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 been prevalent.
The services of the Laboratory Technician have been available
for a limited number of Domiciliary visits when these have been
called for. The following table sets out the work undertaken in
the year 1961.
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