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47,
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE AREA
The Minister of Health, in Circular 1417, intimated that it will be
sufficient for the purposes of this report to indicate any alteration)
improvement or developments of the health services which have taken
place during the year. Accordingly the services which were dealt with
fully in the survey report of 1930 are on this occasion, only briefly
referred to.
Laboratory Facilities.—The arrangement with Westminster Hospital
for the bacteriological examination of material from suspected cases of
tuberculosis, diphtheria, &c., continues satisfactorily. Examinations of
milk for tubercle bacilli, special examinations of water, milk and other
foods, particularly in the investigation of foods suspected of being the
cause of food poisoning, are also carried out at the hospital. The Milk
Marketing Board's scheme for the supply of milk to school children which
came into operation on 1st October, 1934, required that the medical
officer of health should be satisfied as to the quality of such milk.
Arrangements were accordingly made for the bacteriological examination
of milk supplied to Westminster schools at the hospital laboratories.
From the date of commencement of the scheme to the end of the year
four samples were examined and gave satisfactory results. During the
year four samples of Certified milk were examined for brucella abortus.
The examination of graded milk under the Milk (Special Designations)
Order, 1923, is carried out at the laboratories of the Chemical
Research Association.
The chemical analysis of food and drugs is performed by the Council's
two public analysts.
The analysis of matter in connection with investigation of atmospheric
pollution is also carried out by one of the public analysts.
Ambulance Facilities.—The various services have been fully set out
in previous reports and are efficient and adequate.
Nursing in the Home.—The nursing of general illness in the home is
undertaken by three District Nursing Associations in the City. By
agreement, the City Council, as the maternity and child welfare authority,
pays these associations for nursing cases of puerperal fever and puerperal
pyrexia and other illnesses connected with childbirth, likewise for ailments
in children up to five years of age, including measles and whooping coughThe
nursing of primary pneumonia and influenzal pneumonia is also
undertaken by the associations on behalf of the Council. The rate of
payment is Is. 6d. per nursing visit and the total amount paid during