London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Harrow 1935

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]

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41
ISOLATION HOSPITALS.
DESCRIPTION OF PREMISES.
Particulars of the hospital are contained in the Annual Report
of 1934.
ADMINISTRATION.
During the year the necessary changes were made by which the
two isolation hospitals, viz., the Harrow-on-the-Hill Hospital at
Rayners Lane and the Hendon Rural Hospital at Honeypot Lane,
which had previously been run separately, became parts of a
single unit, Rayners Lane Hospital admitting cases of scarlet fever
and diphtheria and later transferring convalescent scarlet fever
patients to Honeypot Lane.
On 1st January the Medical Officer of Health took over the
superintendence of the Honeypot Lane Hospital in place of the
late Dr. Leslie Romer, and on 1st July, when the Assistant Medical
Officer took up his duties, the previous practice under which the
local medical practitioners attended their own patients at the
Rayners Lane Hospital was discontinued.
In the earlier part of the year the Honeypot Lane Hospital
admitted acute cases of scarlet fever but since 31st May, on the
resignation of the Matron, Miss Streeter, only the convalescent
cases from Rayners Lane Hospital have been admitted.
All the laundering for both hospitals has, since the early part
of the year, been carried out at the Honeypot Lane Hospital, at
which a water softener and a press were installed. The ambulance
is stationed at the hospitals alternate weeks, the disinfecting van
being at the other hospital. Owing to the altered practice with
regard to disinfection much less outside fumigation is now being
done.
Diphtheria swabs are now examined at the Rayners Lane
Hospital. All patients admitted to the scarlet fever wards are
now swabbed for the presence of Klebs Loeffler bacillus.
The following is a summary of the various recommendations
adopted during the year concerning the two institutions, with the
month of their adoption by the Council:—
That the visiting of patients at the Harrow Isolation Hospital
be discontinued, and that the Matron be on duty to
interview relatives for an hour on two days each week.
(1st January.)
The staffing of the hospitals was fixed: At Rayners Lane
Hospital—Matron (to be in charge also of the Honeypot
Lane Hospital); Assistant Matron; one senior and two
other Staff Nurses and eight Nurses. At Honeypot Lane
Hospital—one Staff Nurse and two Nurses.