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10
SECTION B
General Provisions of Health Services
1. (i) Public Health Officers
The staff of the Public Health Department is as shown in
the preface to the report. Changes of staff during the year
have been recorded in the preface.
(ii) Laboratory Facilities.
During 1950 bacteriological examinations were carried out
by Dr. D.S. Murray at the Laboratory, 37 Coombe Road, as part
of a pathological service administered by the South Western
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. In addition, the
Ministry of Health Laboratory at Epsom is available for
consultations and, if an occasion should arise, for the
investigation of any important outbreaks of disease.
The presence of the laboratory in Kingston Hospital is of
great value in helping to identify and control outbreaks of
infection when they occur. This service, throughout the
year is gratefully acknowledged.
Bacteriological examinations of milk are also undertaken
by the Ministry of Health Laboratory, Epsom, and samples under
the Pood and Drugs Acts are submitted to the Public Analyst.
(iii) Ambulance Facilities.
Ambulance facilities are now provided by Surrey Ambulance
Service.
(iv) Hospitals
(a) Infectious Diseases.
The South Western Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board
is responsible for the provision of beds for cases of infectious
disease. Such patients are admitted directly to Tolworth
Isolation Hospital whenever possible, which is under the
direction of the Medical Superintendent of Kingston Hospital.
On occasions, when beds are not available, admittance is
arranged with the South Middlesex Hospital, and in the event
of beds not being available there, the removal is put into
the hands of the South Western Branch of the Emergency Bed
Service which operates in conjunction with the Local Authorities
and Hospital Boards. During the year 44 infectious disease
c»ses were sent to hospital for treatment, or diagnosis, as
follows
To Tolworth Isolation Hospital 27
South Middlesex Hospital 7
Grove Hospital, Tooting 2
Kingston Hospital 7
Wandle Valley Hospital 1