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registered during 1971 . At the end of the year there were three
registered nursing homes in the borough and these provided a total of
68 beds for chronic sick and medical patients. None provided any
maternity beds, but one of the registered homes may receive up to
three persons for treatment for the termination of pregnancy, in
accordance with Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act, 1967, which provides
that except in the case of urgent termination of pregnancy to save the
life of or prevent gross permanent injury to the physical or mental
health of the pregnant woman, termination of pregnancy must be carried
out either in a National Health Service hospital or in a place approved
for the purpose by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services.
LICENSING OF NURSES AGENCIES
The Borough Council is responsible for licensing of Nurses
Agencies, under the Nurses Agencies Act, 1957. These licences are
renewed on 1 January each year. One agency asked for its licence to
be withdrawn in 1971, and the one remaining agency was granted a
licence to continue for another year.
CREMATIONS
The medical officer of health, deputy medical officer of
health and a senior medical officer are recognised by the Home Office
and act as medical referees to the borough crematorium in Kingston.
During the year there were 1,364 cremations. None was rejected
and queries raised were answered satisfactorily before the services.
MORTUARY SERVICES
These have been arranged jointly with Kingston Hospital.
ADULT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
255 candidates for appointment to the Council's staff were
examined as to their fitness for employment. An additional 476
were accepted on completion of a medical history form, without actual
examination.
306 newly appointed teachers and candidates for admission to
teacher training colleges were medically examined as required by the
Department of Education and Science. 301 teachers were considered fit
upon completion of a medical history form.