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(c) Circular letters are issued by the Medical Officer of Health
to general practitioners and hospital medical staffs as and
when necessary. Eleven such circular letters were issued in
1953, referring to 24 items, the subject matters being as
follows:—
Prevention of Tuberculosis (Mass Radiography); Immu
nisation against Whooping Cough (Extension of facilities to
general practitioners); Treatment of Anthrax, Botulism,
Snake-bite and Mushroom Poisoning, etc.; Home Nursing
(Availability of Service); Smallpox (Information as to
North Country Outbreak); The Public Health (Infectious
Diseases) Regulations 1953; Medical Aid Fees; Health
Visiting (Availability of health visitors to assist general
practitioners); Bacillary Dysentery (Evidence of increase.
Care required in case of food handlers); Poliomyelitis (Incidence
in Walthamstow—names and addresses of consultants
available); Treatment of Scabies (Suspension of Walthamstow
arrangements. Treatment at Hackney Scabies Clinic);
Weil's Disease (Reminder as to possibility of cases); Co-operation
of Public Health Services; Tuberculin Testing of
School Entrants; School Medical Records (Availability of);
Maternity Medical Services (Limited circulation to general
practitioners on obstetric list and accepting medical aid
notices—clarification of doctors' wishes in regard to booked
patients).
(d) Patients are referred from the Local Health Authority Clinics
to consultants for a further opinion by means of triplicate
forms. When the opinion has been received, a copy is passed
to the family doctor. The Children's Department of one
hospital is particularly good in supplying copies of discharge
reports.
(e) The Medical Officer of Health is a member of the Group
Medical Advisory Committee and one of its representatives
on the Group Hospital Management Committee. The
Deputy Medical Officer of Health is the Honorary Secretary
of the Group Medical Advisory Committee and also parttime
Medical Superintendent of Chingford Hospital.
3. Laboratory Facilities.
Laboratory investigations are done at the Public Health Laboratory,
at St. Margaret's Hospital, Epping. There is a morning collection
Mondays to Fridays, with a special collection on Saturdays
on request. Specimens are taken by van to the Laboratory at