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Laboratory Facilities. The Nelson Hospital appointed
Dr. J. M. Lever as their Pathologist and Bacteriologist in
succession to Dr. F. Deas who retired during the year.
Arrangements for pathological laboratory work continues to
be carried out satisfactorily and expeditiously.

AMBULANCE FACILITIES.
Infectious Cases. Cases of infectious disease, where they
are admitted to Isolation Hospital, are conveyed by ambulances
of the Wandle Valley Joint Hospital Board.
Non-Infectious Cases. During the year 1944 the Council's
ambulance was operated by Civil Defence personnel from its
base at the Fire Station, Kingston Road. A highly efficient
service was maintained and the availability of women personnel
enabled us to provide a female attendant on all occasions;
this is believed to be a great comfort to certain types of
patient, particularly women and maternity cases.
In addition, the availability of cars manned by the Civil
Defence personnel was a great boon, particularly as ordinary
means of transport were so restricted. Conveyance of such
types of case as pregnant mothers to hospital for X-ray and
other investigation while not regarded in the past as essential,
has saved many the discomfort and exhaustion of an awkward
and difficult journey, and also expedited the actual arrangements
by enabling an appointment to be made for them.
The Council has continued its service free to residents up
to a reasonable distance.
The appended table shows the volume of work done by
the ambulance. It does not include journeys done by
ambulance cars. Their valuable work referred to above is
additional to that shown.
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