View report page

98
The removal of patients to hospital continues to be carried out by your
Disinfector, who also acts as attendant. The Inspectors assist when necessary.
Your Inspectors also take duty with the Disinfector on alternate Sundays.
I had hoped that the new disinfecting station would have been in evidence
before the year closed, but no doubt the coming year will see the new building
erected. This will considerably facilitate the work of disinfection.
I regret that the Joint Hospital Board have not yet seen their way clear to
take over the removal of patients to hospital. I sincerely hope the time is not
far distant when this will take place, for although every care is taken as far as
possible in the removals, it could be much better carried out by the hospital
authorities, as they have nurses at their disposal to accompany the patients to
hospital. Some parents are quite indifferent about accompanying their children
to hospital, and others are not at liberty to do so. In either of these circumstances
a nurse's services would be a great boon. Your Woman Sanitary
Inspector could do this when necessary, but the removals occur at times when
her services are not available. To send for a nurse to the hospital (some three
miles away) means unnecessary delay in removal, and for your men Inspectors
to have to occupy this position is a somewhat delicate matter at times, although
it has had to be done for some years. I really think that some serious
consideration should be given to the subject. I may mention that Tottenham
and Wood Green cases are moved by the hospital authorities, and not by the
Disinfector or Inspectors.
Year by year this work is increasing, and the amount paid in wages this
year for extra assistance at removals was £37 14s. 3d.
ERYSIPELAS.
During the year 21 cases of erysipelas were treated at their homes by a
fully qualified trained nurse, the Council not having any hospital for treatment
of such cases. Many expressed their gratitude for the careful attention
they received.
DISINFECTANTS.
The public continue to avail themselves of the opportunity generously
afforded them by the Council of obtaining disinfectants (powder and fluid).
This entails a lot of labour, but no doubt the results are beneficial, if only to
encourage cleanliness.
The number of applicants during the year was 25,614 (1912, 32,667),
a decrease on last year of 7,053.