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'Thanks are due to the administrative staff for
their handling of the voluminous paper work
involved in the activities of the department.
Rehousing on medical grounds
'During the year 352 applications for rehousing
on medical grounds were received from the
Director of Housing. All these applications were
supported by medical certificates and were
assessed after visits had been paid by either the
health visitor or public health inspector.'
Public Health Act 1936
Nursing Homes
The local health authority became responsible for
the registration and supervision of nursing homes
in accordance with regulations made under
part VI of the Public Health Act 1936.
Section I of the Nursing Homes Act 1963
made provision governing the conduct of nursing
homes with respect to the standard of
accommodation, staff and the care provided for
patients, and limitations on the number of
patients maintained in each home.
At the end of the year three nursing homes
were registered to which principal medical officers
made periodic visits of inspection.
Survey of Childhood Cancers
This was the final year of this unique survey
which commenced in 1953 under the direction of
Dr Alice Stewart, Reader in Social Medicine,
Oxford University. Many important factors have
already emerged. Among these are the effect
on the child when the mother undergoes pelvic
x-ray during the first three months of pregnancy
and the strong genetic association between one
particular type of mongolism and leukaemia. All
those who have been associated with the survey
will await with interest Dr Stewart's final
conclusions.
During the year the parents of two Hounslow
children who had died of cancer or leukaemia
in 1966 were interviewed by a senior medical
officer. The parents of two selected control
children with birthdays similar to those of the
children who died were also interviewed. The
co-operation given by the parents is always
voluntary and is very much appreciated by
those conducting the survey, for without such
help all their efforts would be frustrated.
The Diploma of Public Health
Assisted Training Scheme
The scheme whereby medical officers are
seconded to a Diploma of Public Health Course
and granted leave of absence on full pay and
payment of course and examination fees has been
in operation since 1966. The medical officer who
was seconded in 1966/67 was successful in
obtaining the diploma and a second medical officer
was nominated to attend a course during
1967/68.
Establishments for Massage or
Special Treatment
During the year eleven establishments were
licensed by the council for the following
purposes:—
Massage and electrical treatment 2
Epilation by electrolysis 1
Chiropody 5
Chiropody and massage 1
Chiropody and electrical treatment 1
Chiropody, massage and electrical treatment 1
Each establishment was inspected by a medical
officer on one occasion during 1967.
Mortuary Services
The borough council maintains a public mortuary
in Feltham to which bodies are admitted from
the urban districts of Staines, Sunbury-on-Thames,
Chertsey, Egham, Walton & Weybridge and
Woking and the rural district of Bagshot. Since
the closing of Richmond mortuary some bodies
are also admitted from the London Boroughs
of Richmond-on-Thames, Kingston-on-Thames
and the urban district of Esher. A nominal charge
is made for the use of the mortuary to the
councils of the above-mentioned districts.
The coroner has directed that deceased persons
who were resident within the London Borough
of Hounslow and require to be removed to a
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