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The premises of persons carrying on business of upholstering, stuffing or lining of bedding, toys and
baby carriages, and others using materials specified in the Act, must be registered; a fee of £1 0s. 0d. is
paid. There were no new registrations during the year. One registered business was discontinued leaving 14
premises on the register.
The Act does not cover the re-making of an article, and dirty materials may be used in upholstering
articles being repaired.
Four samples of filling materials were taken during the year and they proved to be satisfactory.
PET ANIMALS ACT, 1951
The owners of pet shops must obtain an annual licence costing 10/-. The shops are inspected by
both Public Health Inspectors and Shops Act Inspectors: Public Health Inspectors inspect premises for
size, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness, and for the precautions taken for preventing spread of infectious
diseases. During 1962, 14 pet shops were licenced.
STAFF MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
Seventy-five medical examinations were carried out by the Medical Officer of Health and Deputy
Medical Officer in connection with the admission of staff to the superannuation scheme.
In addition, six speoial reports were made to the Council on manual staff who had prolonged
periods of sickness. Three were retired on the grounds of permanent disability; the services of two, who
were temporary employees, were terminated; and one was transferred to light work.
HEALTH SERVICES OF OTHER AUTHORITIES IN THE AREA
Hospitals
The hospital facilities provided by the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, and the
maternity and child welfare and school health services provided by the Middlesex County Council, remain
substantially the same; they are described in the 1948, 1953, 1957 and 1958 reports.
Liaison with Hospitals
The exchange of medical officers between the Paediatric Out-Patients Department at the Central
Middlesex Hospital and the local health authority continued. This scheme has been working very satisfactorily
and has brought the work of the two departments more closely together.
Personal Health Service
The remainder of the report provides detailed information on the personal health services in the
area.
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Care of the Expectant Mother
During 1962 55% of all expectant mothers attended the local ante-natal clinics staffed by assistant
medical officers (Table 43).
Close co-operation exists between general practitioners, staffs of hospitals, assistant medical officers,
midwives and health visitors to provide expectant mothers with adequate ante-natal care throughout pregnancy.
The maternity record card based on the Chase Farm one is also being used for those mothers who
attend at both the Paddington or Kingsbury Maternity Hospital and at the Willesden clinics.
Health visitors make the initial arrangements for hospital and domiciliary confinements at the local
clinics (Table 44). Mothers booked for confinement at home or in Paddington Hospital have specimens of
blood taken by assistant medical officers for the Wass2rman reaction, blood grouping, blood haemoglobin
and the Rhesus factor. Expectant mothers are invited to attend the Mass X-Ray Unit at Central Middlesex
Hospital.
Health visitors conduct mothercraft classes (one afternoon a week at the four main clinics and at
Chichester Terrace Clinic) on the birth and care of the expectant mother and the child. They arrange carefully
planned programmes of talks and demonstrations, which are given by the assistant medical officers,
health visitors and midwives. Mothers are encouraged to ask questions and interesting discussions follow
over a cup of tea (Table 45). Short talks are also given at one of the sub-clinics during the ante-natal
sessions.
The physiotherapist conducts ante-natal relaxation classes on one afternoon a week at Pound Lane
clinic, Stonebridge clinic and Neasden clinic; a health visitor conducts the classes at Kilburn clinic on one
morning a week and at Chichester Terrace clinic on one afternoon a week (Table 46). The mothers enjoy
these classes, and their association with other expectant mothers has a good psychological effect. There is
no doubt that the exercises help the mother at the time of the confinement. She is taught how to breathe
correctly and how to relax, which is of great value, especially when an analgesic is administered. She also
learns the various positions she will require to take up during labour and, therefore, gains further confidence.