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any gas-contaminated cases, and later in preparation for any cases of
typhus which might possibly occur in the Board's area.
In common with other hospitals, the situation has been further
aggravated by a shortage of domestic and nursing staff.
Smallpox.—Under arrangement with the Surrey County Council,
cases of smallpox are admitted to the Smallpox Hospital at Clandon,
but fortunately no cases of this disease have occurred in this District
since 1932, although numerous contacts with the disease elsewhere are
visited annually when arriving in this District.
General Hospitals.—The general hospitals chiefly serving this area
are the Redhill County Hospital, Croydon General Hospital and the
Purley War Memorial Hospital, but a considerable number of residents
receive treatment at various London hospitals and other County hospitals.
All accommodation has been severely taxed during the war period
and the position is still acute.
Maternity Hospital Accommodation.—There is an arrangement
with the Purley War Memorial Hospital whereby the Council has the
call on three beds, and if accommodation permits additional cases can
be admitted. A large proportion of cases from this District are, however,
admitted to the County Hospital at Redhill, while a considerable number
of residents make arrangements with private nursing homes or more
distant hospitals. An analysis showing the percentages admitted to
institutions for their confinements is included in a later section of this
Report. With the increasing number of births and limitation of accommodation,
the competition to obtain admission has become increasingly
keen, while the qualifications imposed upon applicants have had to be
correspondingly restrictive.
When considered in conjunction with the housing situation, which
limits the proportion of expectant mothers who can conveniently arrange
for their confinements in their own homes, the present position is far
from satisfactory, and is in fact one demanding and, it is hoped,
receiving priority of consideration in the post-war era.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL EXAMINATIONS.
The examination of swabs for diphtheria and sputa for tuberculosis
is carried out by the Medical Officers of the Wandle Valley Isolation
Hospital, and during 1945 the following numbers of specimens were
examined:—
Swabs for diphtheria 56
Sputa for tuberculosis 35
In addition, specimens submitted to detect and classify streptococci
are sent to the Emergency Laboratory at Epsom College, while an
arrangement exists whereby other pathological specimens; the examination
of which is of importance to the public health, are examined by
the Pathologist to the Croydon General Hospital.
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