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From the table set out above it will be seen that the Service
continues to expand.
Arrangements have now been completed whereby the Ambulance
Service will be transferred to the County Council in July, 1948.
Fortunately, the Ambulances will be retained at or near their
present site, which means that the Borough should be adequately
covered. It will be common knowledge that removal to hospital
under the new service will be undertaken free of charge.
During 1947, the personnel attached to the Ambulance Service
was considerably increased. A three-shift system was adopted in
place of the previous 24-hour shift, and has worked satisfactorily.
Early in 1947 it became apparent that the transport of cases of
infectious disease to Coppetts Road by means of the London County
Council Ambulance Service was not sufficiently speedy to cover all
emergencies. Arrangements were therefore made to use our spare
ambulance for this purpose, the ambulance being manned by the
regular ambulance staff. This arrangement very quickly proved its
worth, and represents a considerable improvement on the previous
system. During the year, 88 journeys were made to Coppetts Road
and other Isolation Hospitals.
Mortuary.—The position with regard to the Council Mortuary
at the rear of the Town Hall is as set out in the report for 1946. The
Mortuary is still being maintained, and is available for use as
and when required. No post-mortem examinations were carried out
in the Mortuary during the year.
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