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Public Health Laboratory Services
Specimens for bacteriological examinations are submitted to the Public Health
Laboratory Service at the branch laboratory situated at the Town Hall, Edmonton.
For the convenience of general practitioners and the public, there are several
specimen collection boxes situated throughout the Borough.
The specimens are collected from the boxes daily and delivered to the Branch
Laboratory.
Throughout the year we have enjoyed the invaluable advice and assistance of
the director of the Branch Laboratory. Dr. Mair Thomas, in the control of outbreaks
of disease. She has, whenever necessary, included field-work in her bacteriological
investigations.
A total of 13,090 clinical specimens submitted by general practitioners and this
department were examined.
It was estimated that 58% of the general practitioners are regular users of the
laboratory services.
(Statistical Tables. 6, 7, 8, 9—see pages 111-114).
HEALTH CENTRES
Under Section 21 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the duty of
every local health authority to provide, equip and maintain premises at which
facilities shall be available for all or any of the following purposes:-
(a) for the provision of general medical services under Part IV of this Act
by medical practitioners;
(b) for the provision of general dental services under Part IV of this Act by
dental practitioners;
(c) for the provision of pharmaceutical services under Part IV of this Act
by registered pharmacists;
(d) for the provision or organisation of any of the services which the local
health authority are required or empowered to provide;
(e) for the provision of the services of specialists or other services provided
for out-patients under Part II of this Act; or
(f) for the exercise of the powers conferred on the local health authority by
section one hundred and seventy-nine of the Public Health Act, 1936,
or section two hundred and ninety-eight of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936, for the publication of information on questions relating to health
or disease, and for the delivery of lectures and the display of pictures or
cinematograph films in which such questions are dealt with.
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