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13
1.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THE AREA
(i) Staff.
Particulars of the staff are set out at the beginning of this
report. The Assistant Medical Officers, Nursing Staff, and Home
Help Organiser, as also some of the Clerical Staff come under the
jurisdiction of the Essex County Council in their capacity as Local
Health Authority, and, as 1 have already mentioned, your Medical
Officer of Health is also Acting Area Medical Officer for the Part III
duties of the National Health Service Act, 1946.
(ii) Laboratory Facilities.
There is no change in the facilities, and they meet the requirements
of the district. Full advantage is taken of the service by the
Department and by the General Practitioners.
(iii) Nursing in the Home.
(a) General Nursing.
There are, at present, seven Home Nurses in the area. These
are employed whole-time in general domiciliary nursing, but one
also performs midwifery duties.
More Home Nurses will be appointed, as and when the needs
of the Harold Hill Estate justify such appointments being made.
A scheme is in operation, under the provisions of Section 28 of
the National Health Service Act, for the loan of sick-room equipment,
and a small charge is made for this service.
Table 3 sets out the work of the Home Nurses during the year.

(b) Domiciliary Midwives.
At the end of the year nine Domiciliary Midwives were employed,
and here also, the needs of Harold Hill Estate are borne in
mind. All the midwives have had the necessary tuition in the
administration of Gas and Air Analgesia, and all have been provided
with the necessary apparatus, which is regularly serviced by the
British Oxygen Company. AH th.e midwives have cars, either provided
by themselves or by the County Council, and these are helpful
for the conveyance of the equipment, as well as allowing the midwives
to get quickly to their cases.
Furthermore, all the midwives are capable of administering
Pethedine, another of the analgesics, and this is given as required.