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101
As mentioned in the introduction to this report following negotiations
with the North West Regional Hospital Board it is hoped to arrange a
twice monthly visit of a Mass X-Ray Unit to the Borough beginning early
in 1968. In the meantime a permanent Mass X-Ray Unit is available at the
Central Middlesex Hospital, Park Royal, N.W.10 and is open between
9-5 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays and 9-12 on Saturdays. Here any person
over 14 years can attend without appointment or medical note and without
the payment of a fee. In addition, the Chest Clinics at Station Road,
Harrow, and Edgware General Hospital provide ready facilities for the
examination of all patients referred on suspicion of some chest trouble by
hospital departments and also by their own doctors.
A vital factor in the control of the disease is the routine examination
and re-examination of contacts, especially family contacts of a known case.
This has been undertaken by the Chest Clinic and here one would like to
record appreciation and grateful thanks to Dr. Grenville-Mathers and Dr.
Trenchard, for their co-operation, help and advice which has been given
so willingly at all times.
The school medical and nursing staff continue to play their part in
controlling this infection and whenever a case is notified whether pupil,
teacher or other member of staff the question of the need for an epidemiological
investigation is discussed with the staff of the appropriate Chest
Clinic.
During the year 2 school children were reported as suffering from
primary tuberculosis. In one case the infection was confined to the neck
glands whilst in the other no lesion could be demonstrated despite very
extensive tests. Consequently epidemiological investigations were not
considered necessary by the appropriate specialists. In addition to the
routine B.C.G. inoculation offered to all 13 year old school children, the
Chest Clinic have also tested 1069 contacts of actual cases and found 480
to be negative reactors. Inoculation was offered where appropriate and
289 have been vaccinated. All those found to be positive were investigated
by the Chest Clinic.
Laboratory Facilities
The examination of clinical material of public health significance is
carried out by the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue,
London N.W. 10 (Telephone: COLindale 7041). The routine work of the
service is essentially bacteriological, virological and epidemiological.
Routine specimens fall under two main headings:
(a) "Medical" specimens received from medical practitioners, infectious
diseases hospitals and local authorities. These are specimens of faeces,
throat swabs, blood samples, etc., taken for diagnostic examination from
persons suspected of suffering from infectious disease.