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5
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
Public Health Laboratory Service (Table 9)
Bacteriological specimens (swabs from sore throats, faeces from intestinal infections, cough plates
and post-nasal swabs from whooping cough cases, etc.) are examined by the Public Health Laboratory Services
at the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, and at the branch laboratory in Neasden Hospital.
Specimens delivered by doctors to the Health Department, the Health Clinics (or the branch laboratories
in Neasden Hospital) are collected and taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory. A report by
telephone is given to the doctor next morning followed by a written report.
Samples of milk, ice cream, and water are sent by Public Health Inspectors.
Four of the Grade 4 ice cream samples were manufactured in premises in a neighbouring borough ;
the Medical Officer of Health was notified so that he could investigate the methods of manufacture. The fifth
Grade 4 sample was manufactured in the borough from a cold mix. The methods of manufacture were
investigated and suggestions were made for improvement. Three subsequent samples were Grade 1.
Seven of the unsatisfactory samples of water came from the paddling pool at King Edward VII
Park. Some improvement has resulted from modifications to the filter plant so that the water now flows
continuously through the purification and chlorination plant of the nearby swimming bath. However, sand
from the sandpit carried into the paddling pool still produces problems. New outlets will be provided in
1958 to make the cleansing of the pool more efficient.
The remaining four unsatisfactory samples of water were taken from two swimming baths and two
were due to a mechanical fault in the chlorinator and two to a mechanical fault in the filter, which
were speedily repaired.
Uncleanliness and scabies (Table 10)
As compared with 1956 there has been a decrease in the number of children treated for scabies,
but an increase in the number of adults treated. There has also been an increase in the number of children
treated for lice and nits, but a decrease in the number of adults treated. However, the numbers treated are
still small and there is no evidence of an increase in the prevalence of lice, nits and scabies in the community.
Establishments for Massage and Special Treatment
The registration of establishments for massage and special treatment is delegated to the Borough
Council under Part XII of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1944.
During the year, 4 new licences were issued and 23 were renewed. Exemption from licensing was
claimed in one case under the Act for a registered member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. All
the applicants are suitable persons to hold licences, and their premises were found satisfactory.
Health education
In the modern community it is essential that all citizens have a knowledge of the principles of
health and are able to practice the simple rules of hygiene. This knowledge helps many people to avoid
mental and physical disorders and relieves general practitioners and hospitals of some of their heavy burdens
in dealing with the sick.
The department's health education programme is based mainly on lectures illustrated by filmstrips
and films. To ensure that the rising generation gets the best possible training in health, special attention is
paid to health education in schools, linked, as far as possible, with a hygiene or biology syllabus.
The Area Medical Officer and members of his staff and the Chief Public Health Inspector and his
staff give the talks in schools (Table 11). Brains trusts are held at the end of each term, which enable the
children to ask questions which have not been adequately answered during the lectures. The questions which
they put to the panel at these brains trusts show quite clearly that the children are interested in the subject
and that they are gaining much useful knowledge of health matters.
At the health clinics mothercraft classes are held, and doctors, midwives and nurses give many talks,
some illustrated with filmstrips. These talks are most useful in helping mothers to care for themselves
and their babies. Health visitors also give more specific individual health education in the mothers' homes
during their routine visits (Table 12). Mothers' clubs held at the Kilburn and Stonebridge Health Clinics
have been successful and much appreciated. Talks were given on subjects such as health, cookery, sewing,
chiropody, home nursing and first aid.
Health workers themselves need post-graduate education. Health education films are shown and
lectures given, often by outside lecturers, to separate meetings of doctors, public health inspectors, health
visitors, and day nursery matrons and their deputies. The meetings are held regularly, and the interesting
discussions that follow many of them have been most valuable in keeping staff abreast with recent advances in
technique in their special subjects.
During the year, students studying at the University of London Institute of Education for the
Diploma in Health Education visited Willesden on several occasions in order to gain practical experience.
Talks have been given to religious, social and political organisations for a number of years, but the
extension of the habit of television viewing has affected the number of requests received by the department
and the size of the audiences at meetings. Nevertheless many talks were given to several organisations on
different subjects (Table 11) and they were well attended.