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Hospitals
The general hospital services available to the people of South'
gate continue in the main as in previous years.
The acute shortage is in maternity beds, and the scheme for
"planned early discharge" must inevitably continue until the shortage
is met. In all these cases a very careful investigation is made to
ensure that the home is a suitable one to which the mother may
safely return 48 hours after her confinement in hospital.
Laboratory Facilities
I would again record my appreciation and thanks to the staff
of the Public Heallth Laboratory Service both at Cblindale and at
Edmonton for their unfailing assistance during the year. I feel
that we are very highly privileged in having available their expert
advice to call upon at any time.
Summary of the work carried out by the Laboratory Service for
the year is :
Positive Negative
S'wabs for diphtheria bacilli — 92
Sputa for tubercle bacilli — 17
Throat and Nose 220
Faeces 693
Urine 148
Blood 69
Others 90
Mortuary
The mortuary arrangements remain as set out fully in the
Annual Report for 1946, with the addition mentioned in the 1960
Annual Report that we now have a firm agreement with Prince of
Wales Hospital to accept Southgate bodies.
In 1964, 107 bodies were sent to the mortuary at the Prince
of Wales' Hospital.
Scabies and Lice
Our procedure in regard to the treatment of scabies and
infestation by lice remains as in previous years. In cases requiring
treatment at a Cleansing Station, it is our practice to arrange with
the Medical Officer of Health of Edmonton for treatment to be
carried out at the Edmonton Cleansing Station.
During 1964, three persons were treated for scabies at the
Edmonton Cleansing Station.
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