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LAUNDRY SERVICE
Once again the Borough Council's laundry service
proved an invaluable adjunct to the services provided in the
home to care for the chronic sick. During the year 45 cases
were assisted.
PATHOLOGICAL SERVICE
Dr. T.F. Elias-Jones has very kindly given me the
following report on the Pathological Services administered
by him during 1959:-
There is a close and mutually beneficial association
between the Barking Public Health Department and the
constituent laboratories of the Ilford and Barking Hospital
Group Pathology Service, particularly the laboratory at
Barking Hospital.
Haematological (and other) investigations of expectant
mothers constitute an important part of the work done in this
connection. These are undertaken not only for patients
attending the Borough's ante-natal clinics in preparation for
hospital or domiciliary confinement, but also for those to be
confined at home whose ante-natal care is supervised by
family doctors. In the organization of this work, for both
categories of patients, the helpful co-operation of the Borough
Health Department's Medical Officers, Health Visitors, Midwives
and Clerks is greatly appreciated by the laboratory
staff.
Insofar as timely laboratory investigations during
pregnancy can help to safeguard the life and health of the
mother and her baby - and they can help a great deal - it can
be fairly stated that no expectant mother in Barking need be
denied precautionary aid against the predictable hazards of
Pregnancy and delivery. This must be stressed because,
either through ignorance of the existence of these facilities
or because of prejudicial reluctance to use them, a small
minority of Barking women still do not fully avail themselves
of this service.
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