View report page

A permanent mass X-ray unit has been established at West Middlesex Hospital
and is open to the public without appointment. During the year 847 children were
inoculated with B.C.G. vaccine as a protection against tuberculosis.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM. One case was notified from a hospital.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA. During the year 90 cases were notified as compared with
118 cases in 1959. No woman died from puerperal or post-abortion sepsis and none
of the infections were severe.
MEASLES. This was not a year of measles prevalence and 30 cases were notified
as compared with 1,007 in 1959.
WHOOPING COUGH. There were 199 cases of whooping cough notified as compared
with 46 cases in 1959. Facilities for immunisation against this disease are available,
and 929 babies were inoculated. The condition is most fatal in young babies, and
protection should be provided before the child is six months old. There is evidence
that the protection, if not complete, does mitigate the severity of the attack.
MALARIA. One case of malaria was notified during the year and the patient
had recently returned from Africa,
INFLUENZA. Influenza caused only 2 deaths as compared with 37 deaths in 1959.
MUMPS, CHICKEN POX, GERMAN MEASLES. These diseases are not notifiable, but
cases are brought to the notice of the Department through schools, health visitors,
etc. During the year, the following cases were recorded: Mumps 242. Chicken pox
277 and German Measles 6.
FEVER HOSPITALS. The Borough is served by the South Middlesex Infectious
Diseases Hospital, but on occasion, accommodation in other fever hospitals of the
North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board is used. During the year, 153
patients from the Borough were admitted to these hospitals. Close contact is maintained
between the hospitals and the Health Department, so that any necessary action
can be taken.
DISINFECTION, The disinfection of bedding, etc. in cases of smallpox is done
at the South Middlesex Infectious Diseases Hospital, while the disinfection of homes,
and bedding in other cases, is carried out by the disinfectors on the Health Department
staff. During the year five lots of bedding were disinfected and 2 lots destroyed,
Eleven lots of clothing were disinfected before being sent abroad.
LABORATORY, Certain routine bacteriological work is done in the laboratory at
the Health Department. When more detailed investigation is required, specimens are
sent to the National Public Health Laboratory Service. The number of specimens
examined during 1960 was 1,270. The number of specimens sent to the laboratory is
governed largely by the incidence of gastro-intestinal illnesses.
11