View report page

35
SECTION D.—HOSPITAL FACILITIES.
D(l). General.
Situated within the area is a hospital of 41 beds which is
maintained by voluntary efforts, the building is well equipped
and has a visiting staff of local medical practitioners. The
special departments are attended by a specialist consultant staff.
The services of the large General and Special Hospitals
in London are readily accessible to residents in this area.
D(2). Venereal Diseases.
A Venereal Diseases clinic for this area is held at Dartford
and is provided by the Kent County C ouncil.
D(3). Children.
A ward of 10 beds is provided at the Erith and District
Hospital, whilst special hospitals in Woolwich and other parts
of London are easily accessible.
D(4). Ambulance Facilities.
The Ambulance service is under the control of the Captain
of the Fire Brigade, and is carried out by a full-time staff.
Four ambulances are kept for non-infectious or accident
cases and one for the removal of Infectious cases.
SECTION E.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF
THE AREA.
E(l). Refuse Collection and Disposal.
The arrangements at present existing in connection with
the collection and disposal of house refuse continue to work
satisfactorily. That the existing fleet of vehicles continue to
maintain a weekly collection in spite of the fact that the number
of houses being dealt with at the 31st December was an increase
of some 850, on the like figure for the previous year, reflects
due credit on the administration of this section of the Department.
During the year re-organisation of the days of collection
was rendered necessary, due to the increase in the number of
houses in certain defined districts, and although the service is
now working at full pressure, it does, at present, appear
adequate.
The method of storage is by means of sanitary dust-bins,
and some 10,500 are emptied weekly. The dust-bins are
provided and maintained by the owners of the properties concerned,
the Council securing this by a local act—The Erith
Improvement Act, 1920. Disposal is effected by barging under
contract, and these arrangements are still working very satisfactorily.