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71
been framed, however, as compared with the First Schedule
of the 1927 regulations, to accord with the present shape and
working of the health services; and, in Part III, it differs from
the corresponding part of the earlier regulations in some
important respects concerning prevention of food poisoning.
In making these changes referred to below, the Minister has
taken into consideration the Report of the Catering Trade
Working Party on Hygiene in Catering Establishments, as well
as suggestions made by Medical Officers of Health.
"The provisions about action to be taken by local authorities
and Medical Officers of Health against the risk of food
poisoning applied under the old regulations to" enteric fever and
dysentery." They now apply to "typhoid fever, paratyphoid
fever or other salmonella infections, dysentery, and staphylococcal
infection likely to cause food poisoning." (The phrase
"typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever or other salmonella infections"
comprises the diseases previously described as "enteric
fever"). Under the 1927 regulations the steps prescribed
could only be taken in relation to a person suffereing from the
disease in question, and for the purpose of preventing such a
person from continuing to work in an occupation connected
with the preparation and handling of food or drink. The new
regulations go further. They provide for action to be taker
not only as regards a person suffering from the disease in
question, but also a person shown to be a carrier of the disease;
and a person in either class may now be prevented not only
from continuing to work in an occupation connected with food
or drink but also from entering such an occupation. Under the
1927 regulations, again, the prescribed steps concerned could
not be taken until the Medical Officer of Health had reported
the case concerned to the local authority. In the new regulations,
while the same general prinicple is maintained (because
action may involve the local authority in paying compensation
under Section 278(1) of the Public Health Act, 1936), there
is provision to enable a local authority to give its Medical
Officer of Health such authorisation as will permit him to take
the prescribed action in a particular case without waiting to
report it—though he is required to report it at the earliest
opportunity -if in his judgment this action needs to be taken
as a matter of immediate urgency to prevent the spread of
infection.
"Regulation 4 requires the local authority to send a copy
of the regulations to all medical practitioners practising in their
district."
After consideration by the Council, the Medical Officer of
Health was authorised to issue any notice on behalf of the Council