London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1934

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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156
Consultative
service.
The pathologists have maintained co-operation with the hospital clinicians;
and the appointment of the assistant pathologists and of the additional histologist,
to which reference was made in the last annual report, has enabled this valuable
liaison to be extended to include, not only consultations on particular cases, but
also regular visits by the pathologists and their assistants to the hospitals within
their respective groups. The histologists attached to the central histological
laboratory act in a consultative capacity to all the hospitals and institutions under
the control of the Hospitals and Medical Services Committee.
Special investigations
and
research.
There are obviously wide nelds tor research in this growing service, but the
performance of the routine work, the supervision of the work of the subordinate
staff and the organisation of the service generally have left little or no time for
work of this nature. The desirability of conducting such research as has been
possible has, however, been kept in view; and a number of important investigations,
many of them of a research nature, have been, or are being, undertaken, references
to which appear in the appended summary of the reports presented by the directors,
the pathologists and the histologist.
Post-mortem
examinations.
During the year, 1,435 post-mortem examinations were earned out by the
pathologists and histologists. For various reasons the pathologists and the histologists
also attended a number of post-mortem examinations performed by others.
Museum at
the central
histological
laboratory.
The central histological laboratory, in February, moved into the premises
provided for it at the Archway hospital. Important additions have been made
during the year to the collection of histological sections and morbid anatomical
specimens in the museum attached to this laboratory. Supplementary editions of
the index of sections, which was first issued in 1931, are printed annually and distributed
to the hospitals for the information of the medical staff.
Laboratory
technicians.
Reference has been made in previous annual reports to the recruitment and
training of young women of good education for employment in the hospital laboratories
as " women hospital laboratory technicians." Twenty appointments were
made under this scheme ; but, owing to the period of training required, great
difficulty was experienced in filling vacancies which arose owing to retirement or
the sudden expansion of work, and this scheme of recruitment has had to be
abandoned. The special grade of " women hospital laboratory technician " has
been abolished. Technicians employed in the hospital laboratories have been
graded as " laboratory technicians (grade B) " and have been made interchangeable
with technicians of the same grade working in the group laboratories, so that they
may obtain a wider experience of the work. Up to the present no difficulty has
been experienced in filling vacancies for this grade of technician. During the
year an additional technician (grade B) was appointed to five of the laboratories to
undertake relief work in the hospital and erouD laboratories.
Attendance
of students
at group
laboratories
Students working for the diploma of bacteriology at the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine attended the group laboratories for a period of one
week in 1933 to obtain experience of the technique and administrative methods
employed. Professor W. W. C. Topley, who is in charge of the Division of Bacteriology
and Immunology at the School, later stated that the scheme had been a great
success, and eight students attended the group laboratories in June, 1934, for a
period of two weeks.
Agreement
with the
Stepney
Borough
Council.
The agreement with the former board of guardians under which pathological
work was carried out at the group laboratory at Mile End hospital for the metropolitan
borough of Stepney had been renewed from time to time since 1930. The
arrangements made under this agreement were reviewed in consultation with the
borough medical officer of health and a new agreement was drawn up to come into
force as from 1st July, 1934.
Media,
stains, sera,
etc.
During the year several important additions were made to the products prepared
at the Southern group laboratory to which reference is made later in this
section of the report.
Apparatus.
Laboratory apparatus such as glassware, which is in common use in the
laboratories, has been standardised, and several new items have been added during
the year to the central stock (at the Southern group laboratory) for issue as required.