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8
1.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THE AREA.
(i) Public Health Officers of the Authority.
It will be noted from the list given at the beginning of this
report that there has been a considerable movement amongst the
temporary personnel. This, we must expect as one of the inevitable
outcomes of war, but is unfortunate from an administrative point of
view, for each new-comer has to be trained to specific duties, and
such movement is not conducive to good clerking and record keeping.
This was especially noticed in connection with the work of
Diphtheria Immunisation, for which there was intensive propaganda
during the year, and, as a result, a considerable amount of recording
had to be undertaken. I am glad, however, to be able to report
that, with very few exceptions, the standard of record keeping has
been maintained.
(ii) Laboratory Facilities.
As from 1st April, 1942, the Essex County Couuncil, under an
agreement with the Ministry of Health, made new arrangements
for their laboratory services. Prior to that date bacteriological examinations
were carried out at the Counties Public Health Laboratories,
established at Gidea Park College, Romford . Since April,
this work has been performed at six hospitals throughout Essex;
Oldchurch County Hospital being the Hospital for this area. The
arrangements at Oldchurch Hospital, however, were delayed because
of staffing difficulties, etc., but, by 1st October, were in full
operation.
Samples of Milk and Water continue to be examined at the
Counties Public Health Laboratories.
In addition to the above, the Emergency Laboratory Service
at St. Margaret's Emergency Hospital, Epping, again supplied
material throughout the year for Diphtheria Immunisation.
(iii) Nursing in the Home.
(a) Midwives.
The domiciliary service of salaried midwives continued as before,
but, for domestic reasons, two of the midwives were not available
for several months of the year. During this period, however,
we had the services of a relief midwife from the Essex County
Council.