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proportion of cases from this District are 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 increased number of births and limitation of accommodation,
the competition to obtain admission remained keen and the qualifications
imposed upon the applicants would have had to be even more restrictive,
but for the reduction in the average stay of normal maternity cases in
most hospitals. While, as a result, more admissions have been arranged,
this is a retrogade step which authorities have been forced to take.
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 cannot be
considered satisfactory, but the problem is a very complex one and is
linked with other social and economic questions.
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 1946 the following numbers of specimens were
examined:—
Swabs for diphtheria 77
Sputa for tuberculosis 61
In addition, specimens submitted to detect and classify streptococci
are sent to the Emergency Medical Service Laboratory, Westhill House,
Westhill Road, Epsom, while an arrangement existed whereby other
pathological specimens, the examination of which was of importance to
the public health, were examined by the Pathologist to the Croydon
General Hospital. The scope of the Emergency Medical Service Laboratory
has now been widened and most samples are sent there for
examination.
In 1946 the following specimens were examined:—
At Epsom for streptococci 170
At Croydon General Hospital:
Blood for Widal Test 7
Faeces for typhoid, paratyphoid, etc. 5
The bacteriological examination of all samples of milk and all water
samples are carried out at the Emergency Medical Service Laboratory,
Epsom, only water samples for chemical examination being sent elsewhere,
viz. to the Clinical Research Association.
DISINFECTION.
The disinfection of bedding, etc., is undertaken by the Wandle
Valley Joint Hospital Board, while the disinfection of premises is carried
out by the Officers of the Public Health Department.
For the convenience of ratepayers, the Council has decided to arrange
disinfection even when this is not essential in the interests of public health,
but in these cases the following charges are made: 10s. per load of
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