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AMBULANCE SERVICE.
The Council has three motor ambulances for the removal of
infectious patients to hospital, and three ambulances for removing
bedding, clothing, or other infected material to the Isolation
Hospital for disinfection.
In addition there are two motor ambulances for use in the
transference of non-infectious and accident cases to and from institutions.
In this connection 2,088 journeys were made during the
vear. In 1,103 cases persons were removed from one address to
another within the Borough, and in 985 cases from an address
within the Borough to an institution outside, or vice versa.
Arrangements are made for a Nurse to accompany the patient,
and during the inclement weather hot water bottles are supplied.
A third ambulance is only used for the removal of small-pox cases.
Reciprocal arrangements are in existence between West Ham,
the County Borough of East Ham, and the district of Barking for
the use of ambulances on call in emergency cases, should the ambulance
of one or other Authority be unavailable, and 48 journeys
were made under this agreement during 1930. .
Transparencies are displayed on all West Ham cars setting
out the facilities for obtaining the use of the ambulance
through Tram Conductors and the Police. Notices conveying the
same information are also exhibited in all the Council Conveniences,
Fire Stations, Schools, and other public buildings.
In cases requiring urgent hospital treatment the ambulance
may be commissioned, provided a medical certificate is supplied,
and also for any street accident. Patients requiring out-patient
treatment are not allowed the use of the ambulance.
Owing to the very heavy demand upon the ambulance service,
it has been considered advisable to extend this service. The
matter has been discussed on various occasions, but at the time of
going to press no definite plan has been decided upon.
The following table sets out the nature of the cases removed,
as stated on ambulance removal forms :—
39