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DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION
Most of the general practitioners in the Borough continue to carry
out immunisation against diphtheria and in addition sessions for this
purpose are held regularly in the welfare centres.
The last confirmed case of diphtheria in Hornsey was in January, 1950
and the last death in January, 1941.
It has now become quite commonplace for Hornsey to be free from
diphtheria but one must constantly remember that this happy state of
affairs is due to the general acceptance by the public of immunisation
as a protection against diphtheria.
The aim is to ensure that at least 75 per cent, of babies are immunised
before reaching their first birthdays. The acceptance rates in Hornsey
are improving but a still greater improvement is necessary and must
be maintained before we can be satisfied.
In Hornsey at the end of 1953, 11,160 children under 15 had received
a course of immunisation at some time. This represents approximately
60 per cent, of the child population.
In immunisation it is not possible to relax efforts after a job well
done ; effort must be continued to increase the proportion of immunised
children within the community.
An account of the scheme in force in Hornsey is given in the Appendix
to this report.
LABORATORY SERVICES
The Laboratory Services are directed by the Medical Research Council
on behalf of the Ministry of Health. Pathological specimens are sent for
examination to the Central Public Health Laboratory at Colindale and
the Branch Laboratory at Coppetts Wood Hospital, Hornsey. The
Public Health Department is a collection centre for specimens submitted
by general practitioners and local authorities and supplies of containers
are obtainable between 9.0 a.m. and 5.15 p.m. (9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on
Saturday).
Specimens received in the Public Health Department office are
collected on Monday to Friday at 3 p.m. and at 10 a.m. on Saturday by
a messenger from the Laboratory Service. Specimens may also be sent
direct to the Hornsey Laboratory before 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and
12 noon on Saturday.
The Central Public Health Laboratory maintains a twenty-four hour
emergency service.
The assistance of the technical staff attached to the laboratories is also
available in connection with outbreaks of infectious diseases at day
nurseries and schools and this assistance is extremely valuable in
controlling the spread of infection.
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