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most heavily felt, into three new areas. The scheme entailed the
appointment of an additional tuberculosis officer and two tuberculosis
nurses, and the erection of a local dipsensary to serve the
new area. It was decided that the new area should consist of the
Borough of Hendon and the Urban Districts of Harrow and RuislipNorthwood,
and that the new head dispensary should be built in
the grounds of Redhill County Hosptal, in order that the resources
of the hospital—X-ray department, laboratories and, if necessary,
beds—might be available for the assistance of the dispensary."
Venereal Diseases.
There is no treatment provided locally for persons suffering
from venereal disease. Provision is made under the London and
Home Counties Scheme, the only centre in the county providing
this treatment being the Prince of Wales' Hospital, Tottenham.
Travelling expenses are now paid by the County Council to outpatients
in necessitous circumstances who otherwise might be
unable to make the numerous attendances over long periods which
are usually necessary if a cure is to be obtained. Information as
to the patients' financial circumstances is obtained by the Almoner.
If approval is granted the Almoner advances the patient's fare on
the occasion of each visit to the hospital.
PROFESSIONAL NURSING IN THE HOME.
(a) General.
For the particulars of the three Nursing Associations in the
district see Annual Report for 1935.
(b) Nursing of Cases of Infectious Disease.
Apart from the arrangements made under the maternity and
child welfare scheme, there is no provision for home nursing of
cases of infectious disease. Regular visits are paid to the homes of
those suffering from notifiable diseases, but on these occasions,
advice only is given and no treatment carried out.
LABORATORY FACILITIES.
Examination of clinical material is undertaken at the laboratories
of the Clinical Research Association. During the year five
swabs were examined for the diphtheria bacillus, sixteen for the
haemolytic streptococcus, two hundred and one samples of sputum
for the tubercle bacillus and nine samples for other purposes. At
the same laboratory, forty-three samples of milk were examined
and thirteen of ice-cream.
Most diphtheria swabs are now examined at the Isolation
Hospital.