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Section B—Health Services.
Laboratory Facilities
Routine clinical material in connection with infectious diseases,
puerperal pyrexia and tuberculosis is examined at the Emergency
Public Health Laboratories at the St. Helier and Sutton and Cheam
Hospitals. Laboratory investigations into suspected food poisoning and
bacteriological examination of milk and water are carried out at the
Epsom Public Health Laboratories. Food, drugs and water samples are
submitted to the Council's analyst, Mr. D. D. Moir, 16 Southwark Street,
London, S.E.I. No facilities exist under the local Public Health
Laboratory Service for the biological testing of milk samples for
tuberculosis and these are submitted to the Royal Surrey County
Hospital, Guildford.
The following examinations were made during the year:
Throat and Nose Swabs 17
Faeces Specimens 246
Sputum for Tuberculosis 1
Skin Swabs 1
Water (Public Supply):
For chemical analysis 3
For bacteriological examination 5
Food and Drugs:
Analysis 318
Bacteriological examination of milk 226
Bacteriological examination of ice cream 94
Bacteriological examination of other foods
for food poisoning organisms 17
Biological examination of milk 12
Vaccination and Immunisation
By agreement between the County and District Councils the
Medical Officers of Health continue to direct the arrangements for
diphtheria immunisation and vaccination in their respective districts,
although these services are the responsibility of the County Council
under Section 26 of the National Health Service Act. During the year
the County Council's scheme was extended to provide for immunisation
against whooping cough. Details of the operation of the scheme are
given in Section F of this report, dealing with infectious diseases.
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