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HOSPITALS.
Similarly, while the same hospitals as hitherto were used to about the
same extent during the first half of the year, latterly a transitional readjustment
has been occurring with Redhill "County" Hospital taking the
majority of all cases and particularly the maternity cases from this
District.
The special arrangement with Purley Hospital for the reception of
local maternity cases came to an end towards the end of the year and the
the future arrangement has not yet been definitely decided. As, however,
the average stay of maternity cases was reduced, the actual number of such
cases admitted increased slightly during 1948.
MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS.
The provisions of Part IV of the Surrey County Council Act, 1931,
relating to the registration and management of massage establishments,
are in operation. There are seventeen such establishments in the Urban
District.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Until July the examination of swabs for diphtheria and sputa for
tuberculosis was carried out chiefly by the Medical Officers of the Wandle
Valley Isolation Hospital, and during 1948 the following numbers of
specimens were examined :—
Swabs for diphtheria 41
Sputa for tuberculosis ify streptococci
were sent to the Emergency 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 1948 the following specimens were examined :—
At Epsom :—
swabs for streptococci 177
faeces 3
miscellaneous 6
At Croydon General Hospital:—
blood for Widal test 1
fasces for typhoid, paratyphoid, etc 1
nasal swab for meningococci 1
DISINFECTION
The disinfection of bedding, etc., is undertaken at the Wandle Valley
Hospital, while the disinfection of premises is carried out by the officers
of the Public Health Department.
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