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Section B—Health Services.
Laboratory Facilities
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. Samples of milk for biological examination for
tuberculosis are submitted to the Public Health Laboratory at Guildford.
The following examinations were made during the year:
Throat and Nose Swabs 6
Faeces Specimens 306
Rectal Swabs 5
Blood Specimens 1
Water (Public Supply):
For chemical analysis 2
For bacteriological examination 4
Water (Swimming Bath):
For bacteriological examination 8
Food and Drugs:
Analysis 344
Bacteriological examination of milk 228
Bacteriological examination of ice cream 84
Bacteriological examination of other foods
for food poisoning organisms 3
Biological examination of milk 12
Vaccination and Immunisation
The County Council is responsible for the scheme of vaccination
and immunisation under Section 26 of the National Health Service Act.
The service, as now developed, provides for (i) vaccination against
smallpox; (ii) immunisation against diphtheria; (iii) immunisation
against whooping cough; (iv) Mantoux testing and B.C.G. vaccination
against tuberculosis of 13 year-old schoolchildren.
By arrangement with the District Councils, local Medical Officers
of Health direct the scheme in their respective districts in relation to
the first three mentioned diseases, whilst B.C.G. vaccination is carried
out under the School Health Service arrangements. Details of the work
performed under the supervision of the district Medical Officers of
Health, i.e., in respect of the prophylaxis against smallpox, diphtheria
and whooping cough, will be found in Section F, dealing with infectious
diseases.
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