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During the early part of 1934 there was a considerable amount of crossinfection
in the wards of the hospital due to cases being admitted with more
than one disease and giving rise to other cases of a second disease in the ward.
This, of course, cannot always be avoided, although measures are taken to
try to ascertain whether any other disease is present in the house from which
the patient is removed to hospital.
When cross-infection does occur however the condition can be helped,
less patients need suffer, and the tension on the hospital can be lessened if
there is sufficient cubicle accommodation.
This cubicle accommodation is also essential for the observation of
patients who are merely suspicious cases of scarlet fever or diphtheria and
who have been admitted pending confirmation of the diagnosis. This saves
other patients in the ordinary wards from being possibly exposed to another
disease. There is only one ward in the hospital containing one bed, and
even this ward is part of a main block. It was suggested by my predecessor
on many previous occasions that a block of ten or twelve cubicles should be
erected at the hospital. For one reason or another, however, (mainly due
to the uncertainty of the position under the Local Government Act 1929, by
which there may be a re-arrangement of hospital areas in the county), nothing
has been done with regard to this.
Towards the end of the year and at the beginning of 1935 it was realised
more fully that this cubicle isolation block was essential and it was
agreed to ask, as soon as the Ministry's attitude became known, for permission
to go ahead with the erection of a block of cubicles. If such cubicles
were erected it would also be possible, when the hospital was not filled with
cases of scarlet fever or diphtheria, to admit bad cases or complicated cases
of such diseases as whooping cough, measles and pneumonia which could be
more easily and more efficiently looked after in hospital than at home.
Bearing in mind the home conditions in parts of Southall, this suggested service
is of some considerable importance in the proper treatment of the diseases
in question.
Provision of antitoxin.
The Council provides antitoxin free to local medical practioners for
cases of diphtheria in the district. During 1934, 240,000 units were supplied
in this way.
The Ministry of Health has also sanctioned the supply of tetanus antitoxin
by the Council to local practitioners if such is required. In 1934,
8,000 units were supplied.
Diphtheria and tetanus antitoxins can always be obtained at the
Health Department during office hours or at the Isolation Hospital at other
times.
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