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When a death from tuberculosis is registered and no record of notification is found, a letter
is sent to the medical practitioner certifying the death, asking for his reasons, and the answers have
in all cases proved satisfactory—the medical practitioner having believed that the case had previously
been notified.
The Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1930, came into operation on 1st January,
1931. They place clearly upon the District Medical Officer of Health the duty to take such steps
as are necessary or desirable for investigating the source of infection, for preventing the spread of
infection and for removing conditions favourable to infection.
Since the beginning of 1931 the Council's Health Visitors have visited cases of Tuberculosis.
They investigate the source of infection and give advice for preventing the spread of infection. They
arrange for the provision of paper handkerchiefs and sputum bottles with disinfectant. They are
also able to arrange for the loan of bed and bedding to enable the patient to sleep in a separate bed,
but in most cases the patients cannot avail themselves of the offer because there is no space in the home
in which to fit in an extra bed. Ring pillows have been provided in emaciated cases with a view
to the prevention of bed sores. Contacts are advised to attend at the Tuberculosis Dispensary of
the Middlesex County Council for examination.
The housing conditions of the majority of tuberculosis families are unsuitable, and make
measures for the care of the patient and the prevention of spread of the disease difficult, if not indeed,
impossible.
PUBLIC HEALTH (PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS) REGULATIONS, 1925.
No new case was dealt with under the above regulations during 1936.
In 1934 the Council ascertained that a resident in the Borough notified as suffering from
pulmonary tuberculosis was employed as a milk roundsman. They put into force their powers under
Article 5 of the above regulations and required the resident to discontinue his occupation.
The resident thereupon made a claim for compensation under these regulations and Section 308
of the Public Health Act, 1875, as applied to these regulations and the Council paid him for a period
the sum of £3 per week.
Eventually negotiations were opened with the resident's solicitors as to the payment of a lump
sum as full compensation and a sum of £400 in full settlement was agreed between the parties and
paid by the Council in 1936. A sum of ten guineas was also paid by the Council to the claimant's
solicitors towards the costs.
At the close of this case the Council addressed a letter to the Minister of Health drawing his
attention to the case and submitting suggestions for the amendment of the Public Health (Prevention
of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925, so as to provide that any person so compensated may be required,
at the discretion of the local authority, not to be employed in any occupation connected with the
preparation or handling of food and to submit to such medical treatment as the local authority may
consider necessary or desirable.
The Minister replied that the points raised by the Council would receive careful consideration
whenever general revision of the regulations is being undertaken.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1925. SECTION 62.
Removal to hospital of infectious persons suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.
No action was taken under this section during 1936.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE AREA.
LABORATORY FACILITIES.
Laboratory facilities are dealt with in the Annual Report on the Municipal Hospital, page 77.
AMBULANCE FACILITIES.
Ambulances are available as follows :—
(a) For infectious cases—
1 ambulance.
(b) For non-infectious cases, accident cases and maternity cases—
4 ambulances.
These ambulances have been established and are maintained by the Willesden Borough Council.
The garage is situated at the Municipal Hospital, Brentfield Road, Neasden, N.W.10.
An all-night service is in operation but it is only partial as there are only two drivers on duty
and any call received when they are both out cannot be dealt with.
A detailed report on the service for the financial year 1935-36 will be found in Appendix C.