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15
1.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THE AREA.
(i) Public Health Officers of the Authority.
During the year there were again several changes amongst the
members of the staff of the department, for the most part due to the
return of serving members—these, in turn, replacing the temporary
staff, who had carried on in their absence.
Particulars are given at the beginning of this report.
(ii) Laboratory Facilities.
(a) Under our arrangement with the Essex County Council, the
greater portion of the clinical material from the District is sent
to the Oldchurch County Hospital Laboratory.
(b) Under a similar arrangement, samples of Milk and Water are
analysed at the Counties Public Health Laboratories, which,
during the year, returned to London from their temporary
premises in Romford.
(c) Alum Precipitated Toxoid, used for the Immunisation of children
against Diphtheria, was again issued free by the Sector
Pathologist of the London Hospital Medical College.
All these arrangements have proved satisfactory, and have not
given rise to complaint.
(iii) Nursing in the Home.
(a) General Nursing.
There are, in the district, 6 District Nurses, who devote their
time to domiciliary nursing. Three of these are provided by the
Romford District Nursing Association, two by the Collier Row
District Nursing Association, and one by the Havering District
Nursing Association. One of those provided by the Romford District
Nursing Association undertakes general nursing duties only, whilst
all the others combine their general nursing with midwifery.
(b) Midwives.
Our establishment of municipal midwives remains at 8, and,
during the year, they were all fully employed. One resigned to take
up similar employment with another Authority, but this vacancy
was filled at the end of the year.
Each of the Midwives took a special course in the administration
of Gas and Air Analgesia, and, having been issued with the requisite
equipment, are now prepared to make use of this in the course of
their duties.