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General Provision of Health
Services.
Hospitals.—General Hospitals.—The arrangements set out in
the Annual Report for 1930 regarding the provision of general and
special hospital accommodation for the inhabitants of Southgate
remain unaltered. They still appear satisfactory.
Provision for Maternity Beds.—The agreement with the Royal
Northern Hospital and the Salvation Army Maternity Hospital to
admit Southgate mothers at reduced fees, continues to work satisfactorily.
As before, the North Middlesex County Hospital is also
being utilised by a proportion of our maternity cases.
Isolation Hospital.—The previous policy of the Council has
been to maintain as high a standard of general equipment at the
Isolation Hospital as is possible, and, continuing this policy, a
considerable number of improvements and alterations took place
during the past year. These included further improvements to
roads and paths; ward decorations ; improvements to the Mortuary;
provision of new equipment, such as ultra-violet and radiant heat
apparatus, bed tables, bed screens, lockers and chairs; repairs to
beds and cots, and the provision of a heated waggon to carry food
from the kitchen to the wards. In addition, the old school house
was converted into a dwelling house for the Medical Superintendent
and a path constructed therefrom to the Hospital. At the same
time, extra ground was included within the Hospital boundaries,
as shown in the accompanying diagram.
A laboratory, intended to serve the uses both of the hospital
and the district as a whole, was also included as part of the above
scheme. When it is in operation, this laboratory should very
considerably improve the facilities available for the Hospital, and
should supply a service which is never entirely satisfactory unless
carried out upon the spot.
During the coming year, further improvements are contemplated.
These include overhaul of the disinfector; alterations to the heating
system of the Cubicle Block; improvements to the garage; construction
of a workshop for the porter, and a patients' shelter;
further extension of the ultra-violet facilities; erection of a lire
escape in the Administration Block, and seven new bedrooms for
nurses; new internal telephone system; additional improvements
to roads and paths, and other minor alterations and improvements.
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