View report page

8
One case of typhoid fever occurred in a woman who had stayed for a week at a holiday camp in
England. This necessitated visiting and keeping under surveillance some 37 persons living in the
City who had been in contact with this woman whilst they were on holiday. No secondary cases
occurred.
Acute Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria and Smallpox
No cases of these diseases occurred in Westminster during 1965.
INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION AND INOCULATION
Arrangements continued during the year for the authentication by the Medical Officer of Health of
International Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation completed by medical practitioners in
Westminster. These certificates are required by persons proceeding abroad from this country and
the purpose of the authentication is to provide proof to those health authorities abroad who desire
it that the signature of the person issuing the certificate is that of a registered medical practitioner.
After normal office hours, at week-ends and on public holidays, certificates can be authenticated upon
application to the Duty Officer at City Hall.
During the year under review 12,740 such certificates were authenticated, the demand being due to
the large number of people going abroad for holidays.
The Medical Officer of Health also issues, on request and in appropriate circumstances, certificates
to the effect that no cases of smallpox have occurred in the district during the preceding two weeks.
These certificates, some 40 of which were issued during 1965, are sought mainly by persons proceeding
to the United States of America who do not wish to submit to vaccination. It is understood that the
United States immigration authorities reserve the right to place such persons under surveillance
notwithstanding the production of a certificate of this kind.
AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SERVICE
This service came into operation on the night of 31st March, 1965, upon the amalgamation of the
three Boroughs and provides comprehensive coverage of all health, welfare, medical, and similar
emergencies arising at night, at weekends, over Bank Holidays and at all times outside normal office
hours. It is organized and administered by the City of Westminster Health Department and financed
jointly with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, to deal with problems or emergencies
arising in the areas of both Authorities.
The telephone control centre at City Hall, Westminster, is manned by four Duty Officers operating
a rota system. Each Duty Officer has a working knowledge of the services with which he may have to
deal, and has at hand completely up-to-date lists of the telephone numbers of all statutory and other
senior officers of the respective Health, Children's and Welfare Departments who will be on standby
duty or may be required in an emergency, together with detailed files and general information concerning
services available. He is thus able to place a caller in contact with the appropriate officer or
service, or, when the enquiry does not require specific action, to supply information and to some
limited extent to act as a public relations officer. Messages not requiring immediate attention are
referred to the day staff for prompt attention in the usual way.
Officers who are always available on call for each Borough include the Medical Officers of Health
and their Deputies, Senior Medical Officers, Mental Welfare Officers, Children's Officers, Welfare
Officers, Midwives and Public Health Inspectors. In the event of their being called out to deal with an
emergency, these officers, and others, are able to report back periodically to the control centre, and
so receive additional messages, summon other services, or obtain emergency transport, etc.
This "after hours" emergency service works in co-operation with general medical practitioners,
hospital and ambulance services, the police and a wide range of official and unofficial organizations.
Close liaison is also maintained with parallel emergency services operating in other London Boroughs,
thus making it possible to summon assistance to deal with almost any problem in the field of health
and welfare which might arise outside normal office hours. In addition the Duty Officers are available
to deal with the authentication of International Certificates of Vaccination at night, weekends and
on public holidays.
During the period 1st April to 31st December, 1965, 5,249 calls were dealt with through this system.
Of these, 3,290 related to the City of Westminster, and 1,959 to the Royal Borough of Kensington
and Chelsea. The majority were in connection with mental health and child welfare matters. An
analysis of the calls is given in Table 8, page 57. Miscellaneous calls included such varied matters as
cremation bookings and an enquiry from one gentleman who wished to know how to enter the
London to Brighton walking race.