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38
In October the Public Health Committee instructed the Clerk to ask the
Board to permit the attendance of Dr. Cook, the Medical Superintendent, at
their November meeting, in reference to a return case, but on November 28th
the Board wrote stating that whilst admitting that a mistake had been made,
no good would result from allowing Dr. Cook to attend.
On December 3rd I reported to the Public Health Committee that great
difficulty was being experienced in obtaining hospital accommodation for the
isolation of cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria, our hospital at Winchmore
Hill being quite full. Every effort had been made by the Medical Superintendent
and Clerk of the Joint Board, but they had only been able to provide
additional accommodation for diphtheria at the Cheshunt Isolation Hospital,
and in order to help Cheshunt, bedsteads and bedding were sent from our store
at Picketts Lock Lane. A statement was submitted by me showing the number
of cases (11 to date) which had not been removed to hospital. Instructions
were given for a letter to be sent to the Enfield and Edmonton Joint Isolation
Board, pointing out the number of cases which had not been received there,
and asking for every possible step to be taken to obtain accommodation for the
same.
In December it was decided that the weekly infectious returns to the
Government from England and Wales should be laid before the Public Health
Committee at every meeting; also that the Ministry of Health be asked" to
hold a Government enquiry owing to the continual epidemic of infectious
disease occurring in the district." Arrangements had to be made in some
cases to provide nursing in the homes at the cost of the ratepayers.
On 7th January, 1920, I was able to report that there were only nine cases
of diphtheria in the Cheshunt Hospital, and I pointed out that for the past
three months a mixed incidence of scarlet fever and measles had caused trouble
at our hospital, and that finally a ward or wards had been set aside for such
cases. The Board wrote that every endeavour would be made to find accommodation
in our hospital or elsewhere for cases requiring isolation.
Transport.—This continues on the old-fashioned lines by the Council's
horse-drawn vehicle. As I have been saying for the past 14 years, the proper
and prompt method is by motor transport from our hospital. That is the
method of the Metropolitan Asylums Board and of our own Smallpox Hospital
Board.
Motor Ambulance.—In June a report was presented from a sub-committee
of the Public Health Committee who had joined the Inspector of Nuisances
in considering the advisability of motorising all vehicles used by the Public
Health Department. This question, in course of time, had merged into the
provision of vehicles to enable the Council to collect house refuse without the