London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Heston and Isleworth 1933

[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 19 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 696 medical orders
during 1933. Some of these cases received also out-relief and institutional treatment.

COUNCIL LABORATORY, 1933.

Total.Positive.
Swabs for Diphtheria sent by Medical Practitioners29714
Taken from Schools, Clinics and from Contacts77313
Sub-Cultures92
Sent from Staines Joint Isolation Hospital13317
Total cultures examined121246
Swabs examined by Clinical Research Association or at Other Laboratories (2 from Staines)255
Virulency Tests--
Blood examination for Enteric Widal Tests (sent to Clinical Research Association)51
Specimens of Sputum for Tubercle Bacilli sent by Medical Practitioners11412
Specimens of Sputum for Tubercle Bacilli taken at Clinics8-
Hairs for Ringworm taken at Schools or Clinics6726
Other Specimens—
Urine220
Discharge14
Milk38
Faeces (sent to Clinical Research Association)1-
Blood examinations for Anaemia18
Swabs examined for Cerebro Spinal Fever15-
Preparation of Materials—
Tubes of Serum1575
Throat Swab Outfits1600
Sputum Outfits125

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 specimen
of faeces and some swabs were also examined by the Clinical Research Association.