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46
Medical Arrangements
One firm only, possessed a full time medical officer who
supervised other branches as well as the Tottenham Factory, Pour
factories had the part time services of an industrial medical officer.
The remaining sixty-one factories had no arrangements what so ever
for a visiting medical officer.
Surgery accommodation
The five above mentioned factories staffed by a medical officer
had suitable surgery accommodation for the carrying out of medical
advice or treatment. In one case where there was a full time
medical officer there was also a qualified nurse in charge of the
surgery. The remaining four factories shared a communal surgery
as their premises were close to each other with a qualified nurse
in charge.
At the surgeries accidents and illnesses were treated as they
occurred by the doctor or the nurse as the case may be. Where
necessary patients were referred to their own general practitioner
or, in an emergency to hospital, The medical officer concerned
kept his eye on each factory as a whole and advised on general health
problems and any potential industrial hazard,
Pre employment medical examinations
Other than the statutory medical examinations carried out by
the appointed Factory Doctor on young persons pre employment
examinations were almost non existent. Only one firm had this
facility.
Only where an obvious physical defect existed in a person
about to be employed was a medical examination arranged before
acceptance.
The importance of pre employment examinations cannot be
overstressed. The benefits are three fold,
1. to the employer, fitness for the particular job is assessed
2. to the employee it is an advantage to know his health is in
good order
3. to the community early detection of communicable and other
diseases'prevents spread of infection and facilitates early
treatment.