London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Heston and Isleworth 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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General Provision of Health Services in the Area.
Professional Nursing in the Home.—The Isleworth Nursing Association carries on this
work in part of the district, and the Osterley, North Hounslow and Heston Nursing Association deals
with the cases in the remaining area.
No definite arrangements exist for nursing infectious diseases in the home, but emergency
cases which may require it are dealt with as they arise. Suitably trained nurses are put in, if necessary
for day and night duty.
Midwives.—The inspection of Midwives is under the supervision of the County Council.
It is, however, generally recognised that the authority administering a Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme should also exercise control over the Midwives practising in its area.
In this district it is the practice of Health Visitors not to visit the newly born till 11 days
after the birth, in order not to interfere with the Midwife.
According to the County Medical Officer's last list, there are 17 Midwives practising in the
district. This figure does not include 5 Midwives on the staff of the West Middlesex County Hospital.
There is still some difficulty in the Isleworth end of the district owing to the shortage of midwives.
A number of the births are attended from a Nursing Home outside the district.
No Midwife is employed or subsidised by this Council.
Medical Relief.—Poor Law Medical Relief.—The Relieving Officers issued 614 medical orders
during 1932. Some of these cases received also out-relief and institutional treatment.
COUNCIL LABORATORY, 1932.
| Total. | Positive. | |
|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria sent by Medical Practitioners | 335 | 25 |
| Taken from Schools, Clinics and from Contacts | 961 | 36 |
| Sub-Cultures | 25 | 5 |
| Sent from Staines Joint Isolation Hospital | 139 | 19 |
| Total cultures examined | 1460 | 85 |
| Swabs examined by Clinical Research Association or at Other Laboratories (1 from Staines) | 8 | 1 |
| Virulency Tests (1 from Staines) | 3 | 1 |
| Blood examination for Enteric Widal Tests (1 from Staines) | 8 | — |
| Specimens of Sputum for Tubercle Bacilli sent by Medical Practitioners | 134 | 13 |
| Specimens of Sputum for Tubercle Bacilli taken at Clinics | 2 | — |
| Hairs for Ringworm taken at Schools or Clinics | 19 | 7 |
| Other Specimens— | ||
| Urine | 235 | |
| Discharge (2 from Staines) | 18 | |
| Milk | 40 | |
| Faeces (sent to Clinical Research Association) | 1 | — |
| Faeces (sent to Hospital for Tropical Diseases) | 1 | — |
| Blood examinations | 28 | |
| Swabs examined for Cerebro Spinal Fever (sent to Clinical Research Association) (from Staines) | 1 | 1 |
| Preparation of Materials— | ||
| Tubes of Serum | 2050 | |
| Throat Swab Outfits | 2350 | |
| Sputum Outfits | 135 | |
The bacteriological work of the Staines Joint Isolation Hospital continues to be done in the
Council Laboratory.
The Widal Tests were carried out for us by the Clinical Research Association. The specimens
cf faeces and some swabs were also examined by the Clinical Research Association.
The Virulency Tests are carried out for us in the Wellcome Physiological Research Labotarories.
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