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17
SECTION B.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH
SERVICES.
STAFF.
Information as required by the Ministry of Health with regard to the staff of
the department is contained in a statement on page 5. During the year a number
of changes took place. After nearly 30 years' service with the Council, Dr. Charles
Porter retired from the office of Medical Officer of Health, and the Council placed
on record their appreciation of his skilled administration in the Borough during
that period. Dr. Porter had raised the local health services to a high level, and
enjoyed a reputation in the world of preventive medicine which extended far beyond
the area which he had served with such distinction. At the outbreak of hostilities
three members of the permanent staff were called to the Colours: Miss Challis
(Clerk-Dispenser), to serve with a Voluntary Aid Detachment; Mr. Drewell (Second
Class Clerk) with the Lincolnshire Regiment, and Mr. Turner (Second Class Clerk)
with a Sanitary Company of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Of the temporary
staff, Mr. Chanell (Sanitary Inspector) was mobilised with the Royal Naval Volunteer
Reserve in October, and Mr. Telford (Streets Nuisance Inspector) rejoined the
Police Reserve in August. The death of Mr. Payne (Second Class Clerk) is recorded
with great regret. Mr. Overton (Leading Disinfector) having reached the age-limit,
retired as from the 4th November, after 27 years' service with the Council.
LABORATORY FACILITIES.
Dr. L. E. H. Whitby, C.V.O., M.C., continues to act as the Council's Bacteriologist.
The work is carried out in the Bland Sutton Institute of Pathology at the Middlesex
Hospital, and details of investigations in relation to (a) the water of the Council's
swimming pools, (b) milk, ice cream and other foods, and (c) infectious disease, are
set forth under the appropriate headings of this report at pages 25, 29, 31 and 43.
Mr. J. F. F. Rowland, B.A., A.I.C., is the Public Analyst for the Borough, and
his laboratory is situated at No. 133, Gloucester Place, N.W.I. A report on the work
done during 1939, together with a statement of food and drugs analysed, will be
found on pages 31—34.
AMBULANCE FACILITIES.
The efficient ambulance service of the London County Council is available in
the Borough for the conveyance of persons suffering from infectious disease, for
cases of accident, sudden illness and for maternity case3. The ambulances of the
County Council may also be utilised, on payment, for private and non-infectious
cases.
NURSING IN THE HOME.
The Paddington and St. Marylebone District Nursing Association continue to
provide adequate nursing services in the home under an arrangement made with the
Council. The number of cases of measles nursed fell from 38 in 1938 to one in
1939. Influenza cases nursed numbered 31 as against 10 in the previous year. Table
13 gives full particulars of the work carried out in 1939.