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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 diseases 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 continued 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.
Blood Transfusions:
The Council continued to co-operate with the National Blood
Transfusion Service, by arranging Blood Donation Sessions at the Health
Centre. Four sessions were held during the year at which 435 donors attended.
393 were bled and 42 rejected for various reasons. The comparative figures
for 1963 were 475 donors, 419 bled and 56 rejected.
International Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation:
The International form of certificate of vaccination and inoculation
approved since the war, requires the signature of the medical practitioner
issuing the certificate to be authenticated by the Medical Officer of Health.
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